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

At the Mullis Center the third Friday of the month is Field Trip Friday with Callie McKay. I joined the fun this month for an off-island day trip to the Skagit County Senior Center in Burlington followed by a visit to the Skagit County Historical Museum in LaConner. The trip including ferry fare is only $15. We bought our own lunches, donuts, ice cream, and antiques.

Skagit Valley Daffodils – Peggy Sue McRae photo

Leaving my car safe and convenient at the Mullis Center, riding the van onto the ferry, and parking right next to the elevator are a just few conveniences I have come to appreciate when traveling with the Mullis Center. Our driver, the entertaining and accommodating Callie McKay plus nine passengers made for a convivial crew as we set out on what turned out to be a brilliant spring day. The Salish Sea sparkled and the Skagit Valley was beaming with cherry blossoms, snow geese and daffodils.

Enjoying Burlington’s Hugo Accordian Band – Peggy Sue McRae photo

We arrived for lunch at the Senior Center in Burlington to the music of the Hugo Accordian Band composed of five accordion players and a drummer. Hugo Helmer was a popular Accordian Band leader in the 40s and two members of the band in Burlington played in an original Hugo Helmer band. The theme was St Patrick’s Day and we were invited to sing along with Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral and a few other popular Irish tunes.

Woodworking Exhibit at Skagit Valley Historical Museum – Peggy Sue McRae photo

After lunch we set out to LaConner. Half of our crew jumped ship to shop antiques while the rest of us continued on to the Skagit County Historical Museum. The museum has a small but impressive collection of Northwest Coast Native artifacts. Those, we were not allowed to photograph. There was an exhibit of Mexican culture in Skagit Valley, antique cars, and the main exhibit, “Old Time Tools and New Fangled Furniture: Woodworking… A Process”. We enjoyed the artistic woodwork as well as the view of the valley from the main exhibit room.

Leaving La Conner our trip coordinator made sure that everyone’s ice cream needs were met and we were off again to catch our return ferry, a four o’clock boat that didn’t actually leave Anacortes until six. That’s island life. With friendly companions and fine spring weather the extra wait passed easily.

Next Month’s Field Trip Friday is scheduled for April 20 and will take in the downtown Mt Vernon Street Fair plus tulip viewing. If you’d like to join the excursion call the Mullis Center at 360-378-2677 for info and reservations.

The Town of Friday Harbor was named a 2018 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to urban forest management. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

“Everyone benefits when elected officials, volunteers and committed citizens in communities like Friday Harbor make smart investments in urban forests,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees bring shade to our homes and beauty to our neighborhoods, along with numerous economic, social and environmental benefits.”

Trees are assets to a community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits. More information on the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.

The Town of Friday Harbor will celebrate Arbor Day on Thursday, April 5th by planting new street trees on Court Street. Four European Hornbeams will be planted to replace the former street trees that needed to be removed earlier in the year. Following the ceremony, Town will be giving away locally cultivated Garry Oak seedlings.

The public is invited to participate.

• Date:               April 5, 2018
• Time:              2:00 p.m.
• Location:         Courthouse Lawn
• Contact:          (360) 378 – 2810
• Email:              Sarena Schumacher, Parks Department
  [email protected]
• Who:              Open to the public
• Cost:              Free to the public, while supplies last

Meg Partridge, cinematographer, director and producer is presenting her Academy Award nominated film Portrait of Imogen on April 7. She will share personal memories of life with her iconic grandmother, photographer Imogen Cunningham.

The event, part of the Art As A Voice series will be held at the San Juan Grange on First Street in Friday Harbor at 3 pm. A reception following the film will be held at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA).

The film was made with Cunningham’s photos and audiotapes of conversations between her grandmother and her father, Rondal Partridge, a photographer, too. As they discussed process and technique and Meg loved eavesdropping in her father’s workshop.

Meg had known her grandmother when she was in her 70s, 80s, and 90s. To her, Imogen was always this old woman who took photographs, but Meg dove into her early history and her family history while researching for the film, making Imogen’s unusual life come alive for her. Continue Reading

Island Stage Left is looking for 6 people to be spirits in this summer’s 20th anniversary production of “The Tempest”.

All ages, shapes, sizes and ethnicities considered but must be able to move easily and sing a little.

Rehearsals begin June 6th and show closes August 12th. Please email Helen at [email protected] if you are interested.

In the SJ Update mailbag this morning we find this letter from Bob & Shannon Wilson…

Vote YES for our schools! This year, more than ever it is so important that we vote YES on the school levy. It is NOT a new tax, but a renewal of the one that has existed for many years. The legislature did not fully fund public education as promised, and indeed, the San Juan Island Schools over the next four years will receive LESS funding than before because of the allocation of our property tax dollars across the state. Hard to believe, isn’t it? Our community needs this levy!

This levy comprises 17% of our schools’ budget. That’s almost $2 million. This levy covers a host of things that the state does not fund; a school nurse, art teachers in elementary and high school, music in the schools, counselors, food service and so much more.

This is not just about my children, or your children, but about the viability of our community.  As a local business owner, I depend on a strong, sustainable community and a vibrant public school system is pivotal.

Thank you,
Bob & Shannon Wilson

Dr. Danna Diaz – Contributed photo

Greetings Students, Staff, Parents and Community Members:

When we hear news of school-related tragedies, we, as a school district, become ever more resolved in our commitment to student safety. San Juan Island School District principals and school staff have been working hard to create a safer environment for our students.

One year ago the school district, emergency services, and law enforcement carried out an emergency response drill to work through agency communications. This past fall district leadership completed tabletop exercises and a first aid class to practice emergency protocols.

The front entrance to the elementary school has been remodeled to limit access to the building. All other doors are locked during the school day. Inside locks have been installed on every classroom door. Visitors must enter through the main office, sign-in and wear a visitor’s lanyard for identification. Elementary school staff has met with local agencies to review lockdown procedures and an emergency reunification plan. There was a parent information meeting Dec. 12, 2017, a safety workshop “Brown Bag Lunch” on March 5, 2018, and an elementary school evacuation drill, March 27, 2018. Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson shares this real estate information…

IRS Section 1031 – Tax Deferred Exchange

Merri Ann Simonson – Contributed photo

Another positive sign of real estate market recovery for our County is an increase in buyers and sellers utilizing a 1031 exchange. During the recession when appreciation was non-existent there were no gains for buyers and sellers to defer. Many sellers decided to hold off and wait for more recovery.

As a 1031 exchange is a handy tool for deferring income tax on the sale of real estate, I thought you might desire more details about the program. As typical for any IRS code, the description material tends to be dry so reading this article may function as a sleep aid as well.

What is an IRS Section 1031 Tax Deferred Exchange? Quite simply, it allows you as the owner of investment property (almost all property that is not your personal residence or second home) to sell your property and buy another investment property, deferring the tax on your capital gains. You do not have to find someone to accept your property in trade for the one you buy. Continue Reading

Notice of Town Hall Meeting with District 1 County Council Chair Bill Watson

Council Chair Bill Watson will be holding a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, April 5th at the San Juan Island Fire Department, 1011 Mullis Street, Friday Harbor at 5:30 PM.

Mr. Watson and County staff will present 2017 accomplishments and 2018 goals and objectives. Discussion topics will span County finances, road projects and the Comprehensive Plan Update. Time will be allotted for citizens’ questions and answers.

For more information please contact the Clerk of the County Council at 360-370-7472.

The ER entrance at PIMC – SJ Update photo

The telepsychiatry program at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center (PIMC) was recently featured in a case study for the March 2018 publication of the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Members in Action.  

The telepsychiatry program is a service of PIMC that offers weekly psychiatric services to residents living in the remote setting of San Juan Island.  A collaboration with the University of Washington Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, PIMC’s primary care clinic and telepsychiatry coordinator, the program provides comprehensive care and improved patient access.

“Partnering with a psychiatry department that has a deep bench has been very important in terms of ensuring that providers are available to our patients,” says Merry-Anne Keane, chief administrative officer with PIMC. Continue Reading

Homemade holiday treats and a Spring raffle basket are part of the Community Arts Theatre Society’s (CATS) annual Elegant Edibles on Saturday, March 31.

The gourmet bake sale is from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the San Juan Community Theatre’s lobby and features dozens of elegantly prepared goodies by CATS members, including signature dishes from the “Baker Boys.”   They’ll concoct a variety of delights, including coffee cakes, breads, pies, cakes, and condiments (sauces, jams, jellies, etc.) — all just in time for those family holiday brunches on Sunday.

CATS members will also be selling raffle tickets for the chance to win a basketful of décor and menu treats.

All proceeds from Elegant Edibles help fund Theatre operations.

Fiber Customers Can Now Get 1,000 Mbps In Their Homes

Rock Island Communications, the only provider of fiber-optic broadband in San Juan County, announced last Wednesday that gigabit Internet (1,000 Mbps) is now available to the home.

“When we started our efforts just over three years ago, the average download speed in the county was between 2 – 4 Mbps with about .5 Mbps upload. It was dismal at best here, and well under the FCC’s definition of broadband at 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up,” said Gerry Lawlor, Executive Vice President of Rock Island. “To think that well over a thousand locations in the county on fiber can access gig Internet now is nothing short of amazing.”

The company has increased speeds across its entire fiber-optic rate card, offering a range of symmetric rate plans with speeds from 30 Mbps, 75 Mbps, 500 Mbps to Gigabit. The prices for full-time residents still range from $80 to $180 per month, but now include up to $60/month of value-added products and services including a managed mesh network Wi-Fi system, Rock Island email addresses, cyber-security coverage for devices, and cloud backup and storage. Bonus items vary based on rate plan selection. Continue Reading

Here are some happenings and some updates…

This just in – FHHS Athletic Director Rod Turnbull says the golf match has been cancelled today.  Lummi did not have enough players to participate in a match.

Also, today’s girls tennis match with South Whidbey is postponed due to weather.  He will get the new date out as soon as they reschedule.

And, the FHHS baseball game with Darrington on March 29th has been postponed.  Their field is not in condition to play on. They are also working on a new date.

Duck Soup is open again, Thursday through Saturday for now and serving Easter Brunch on April 1st.

The Boards of San Juan Public Hospital District #1, San Juan County Fire District #3 and representatives of the Town of Friday Harbor will have a joint meeting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, at the Mullis Street Fire Station, 1011 Mullis St., Friday Harbor, WA.

L-R: Zach Porter, Mathew Rice, Levi Doenges, Zach Fincher, Abby Margolis, Rachel Kamiya – Contributed photo – (not shown: Allie Galt, Max Mattox and instructors Dan Schwartz, Daniel DeShon and Mari Peterson.)

Loren DeShon shares this update on the recent flight class…

Island students completed eight 3-hour introductory classes at Westwind Aviation over the last two months and the last night all in attendance got to take a flying tour of the islands, landing at Orcas, Roche and Friday Harbor.

The class covered introduction to aerodynamics, navigation, aircraft weather, aircraft systems, FAA flight regulations, maintenance and aircraft performance.

The class was an excellent opportunity to learn about flying and at least one student is already planning to begin work on obtaining the private pilot’s license.

Many thanks to the instructors!

Click to enlarge rendering of finished roundabout

Construction on this starts next week. Here’s the latest from WSDOT…

Customers traveling to the Anacortes terminal during the spring and summer should be aware of construction planned at the intersection of SR 20/SR 20 Spur (Sharpes Corner) in Anacortes. Around-the-clock lane reductions will start on Monday, April 2 and are expected to be in place through summer.

Those traveling to the terminal should plan to allocate extra travel time to arrive at the terminal and are advised to use extra caution while travelling through this area. Check the project website below for more information, and check back for any updates prior to your future spring or summer travel. Reservation holders will also be provided up-to-date travel information in their reservation confirmations and reminders.

SR 20 – Sharpes Corner Interchange project page:
http://bit.ly/SharpesCornerRAB

Rock Island shares this heads up with you…

ALERT: County-Wide Communications Blackout Coming April 12th

On April 12th from 9:00 pm to April 13th at 6:00 am, the county is going to experience a county-wide communications outage. 

The 48-count fiber-optic cable carrying all data and voice traffic from San Juan County for ALL providers is going to be relocated just south of Anacortes at SR-20 and Spur (Sharpes Corner).

WAVE Broadband will be shutting down and re-routing this fiber cable as they implement a traffic change in this area. Continue Reading