It’s not too late to register for Spring Quarter at Skagit Valley College

Registration is going on now. Classes begin April 3rd. Trending programs include:

• Arts
• Basic Education for Adults
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Conservation
• Composites
• Engineering
• STEM
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Also, Business direct transfer (at Whidbey Island Campus)

Or, if you would like to earn your bachelor’s degree, complete your first two years at SVC and then transfer to a four-year university. Study close to home and save money, compared to tuition at a four-year college.

For more information, visit www.skagit.edu/getstarted or call:

San Juan Center, (360) 378-3220

Are you wondering about the purpose of the large sheets suspended in the Atrium of the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA)? Imagine the dry, sun bleached, peeling, concrete walls of the public space in an Egyptian village and follow the street into a private, personal space.

Egyptian/American artist, Yasmine Kasem returns to SJI to discuss her sculptural installation, “Mascricani” which means “between two worlds.” With one foot in each culture, Kasem is daily confronted by dozens of choices. She will address her purposeful selection of materials which signify various aspects of the story of her art, from elaborately patterned fabrics to concrete encrusted burlap, each material is intentionally selected as a metaphor. Kasem will present a visual chronology of her work which laid the foundation for “Mascriani” as well as images of new work from her current studio practice.

The public is invited to a FREE interpretation of “Mascriani” by San Diego based Egyptian/American artist, Yasmine Kasem at 1:00 PM, Saturday, March 24 in the SJIMA studio workshop. We encourage you to hear her interesting story. Sponsored by RaVae Luckhart, Kenmore Air and the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, 540 Spring St, Friday Harbor, WA. Hours are Friday-Monday, 11-5. Admission is $10 and free for members and those 18 and under.

Alchemy Art Center is a new community art space in the Center of San Juan Island. Last week it received nonprofit 501c-3 status.

The goal of the center, located at 1255 Wold road is to offer the following to the community:

“A well equipped communal studio space for member artists, a classroom where resident and visiting artists can teach and everyone is welcome, housing for local artists and visiting artists in residence, and  a 35 foot geodesic dome providing event space.

Claire Wright, of the Friday Harbor Art Market and San Juan County Arts Council stated, ”Alchemy Art Center is an exciting new addition to the arts community in San Juan County. The variety of offerings are much needed and we are looking forward to watching the Growth and evolution of this beautiful compound”.

Partners Maria Michaelson and Eben Shay purchased the nine-acre property with 6 buildings in November 2016. Continue Reading

“Friday Harbor March for Our Lives” will take place Saturday, March 24th, beginning at noon. Islanders will take to the streets to demand that their lives, and safety, become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today.  The demonstration here in Friday Harbor will join the estimated 821 other marches that will take place nation-wide the same day to make sure our voices are heard.

Spear-headed by freshmen Ayla Ridwan and Emma Mughal, the march will begin at the County Courthouse with introductory remarks by Mayor Farhad Ghatan followed by brief presentations from a number of students.

For those who are not registered to vote, the League of Women Voters will be present at a table on the Courthouse lawn facing Court Street to sign you up.  17-year olds who will be 18 by the time of the November election are eligible to register.

All islanders are welcome to participate! The students will lead the march with adults following closely behind.  Everyone is encouraged to wear orange, and to bring signs with a message they wish to share.

The organizers of this march, all San Juan Islanders, wish to thank Sherri and Richard Daly and Susan and Richard Grout for their support and sponsorship.

For further information and to RSVP for the march, go to the Facebook page, March for Our Lives Friday Harbor.

Eric Morrow

Eric loved computers, and was passionate about ending poverty and social injustice. He merged those passions to do good in the world. He also loved tennis, Formula 1, Monty Python, his bike, music, his nieces and nephews who called him “Dunkoo,” and his big, noisy extended family.

Eric died Thursday at Providence Hospice, Everett. He spent his childhood on San Juan Island; he bought his first computer with money from the sale of his 4-H pig at the county fair. He was never bored, always taking things apart and rebuilding them, or getting into trouble with his brother and sister and the many island kids who hung out at the family’s farm. He went to high school on Bainbridge Island.

Founder of the Maendeleo Foundation in Uganda, Eric was named American Innovator by the Aspen Institute in 2009, for creating the Mobile Solar Computer Classroom. He and his Ugandan partner retrofitted two Toyota Rav 4’s with solar panels, bringing computers to young people in rural villages to enhance their chances of employment. Eric wrote training software customized to the Ugandan culture and tribal languages. The foundation continues its work today and Eric’s MSCC idea has been replicated across Africa.

In addition to his work in Uganda, Eric lived for eight years in Greece, where he and his friend Fotis operated a computer business. He taught himself Greek and basically became as Greek as he could. He requested that his ashes be spread there.

Eric felt things too deeply for this world in many ways and suffered for its failings. But he wasn’t all serious: he had an acerbic, irreverent wit that attracted everyone to him and made for hilarious family dinners. He created the pumple pie with his Aunt Jan, Virtual Lunch with Bill (the first Facebook, if only …), and had many a sarcastic word for John McEnroe.

Eric was predeceased by his father, Larry Morrow, Orcas Island. He is survived by his mother, Theresa Morrow and step-father Bill Ristow, Seattle; brother Adam (Krista) Morrow, Bellingham; sister Sarah Morrow (Alan Doerhoefer), Seattle; step-brother Liam Ristow (Meg Wiant), Bethesda, Maryland; step-sister Kate Ristow (Elliot Jacobs), Hailey, Idaho; and his very much loved nieces and nephews: Maggie and Cameron Morrow, and Cecily and Benjamin Jacobs. He is also survived by a gaggle of loving cousins and aunts and uncles.

A celebration of Eric’s life will be held March 24th from 1-4 p.m. at the family home on Queen Anne Hill, Seattle.

No cooking needed on Thursday March 29th! Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at one of the participating restaurants for a great cause!

We are gearing up for our annual SJI Service Scholarship event ‘Dining for Scholars’.  Please help us support the local restaurants that support our local scholarships by dining out at one of the participating restaurants on Thursday March 29th. The more our community members dine out, the more funding for the SJI Service Scholarship recipients!! 

In case you don’t know about the SJI Service Scholarship program here’s a quick rundown…   This program allows local students to receive $1000 scholarship toward their future educational plans (trade school, tech school, 2 yr school, 4 yr school, etc) based ONLY on service to our community.

If in their high school career they contribute 80 hours toward approved community projects and programs they qualify for the scholarship.  This is all about the community and students contributing, no grades are factored into qualifying.  This is a win-win situation!  For more specific details go to sjiservicescholarship.org

Thank you for your support!

Calling all artists, poets, writers, and makers, of ALL AGES… San Juan Island Grange 966 is hosting an art, craft, and photography contest, as well as a creative writing open mic, at our 2018 Open House!

Join us at the San Juan Island Grange (152 1st St) Wednesday, April 11th for a spring celebration of creativity.  We welcome art and craft submissions of every kind (photos, drawings, paintings, sculpture, weaving, jewelry, metalwork, woodworking, you name it), and multiple pieces (in multiple categories) are encouraged.  

We will be accepting art/craft submissions the day of the event between the hours of 11am and 1pm.  If you are unable to get your piece to us at that time, email [email protected] to arrange a pick-up or drop-off that works for you.

All submissions will be up on display for the public during our Open House potluck and artist reception from 4pm-6pm. Come enjoy the the show and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.  This is a great opportunity to see our new deck and freshly refinished floor if you haven’t already… Bring a snack or dish to share if you like! Continue Reading

Marimba Studio – Contributed photo

New spring session begins April 5.  Classes will be held every Thursday, from 5:30 to 7:00 for a 10 week session. 

No musical experience necessary. It’s a fun, group experience – learning to play happy, rhythmic music on various sizes of marimbas. Make new friends and learn something new this Spring.

Call or email for more information:

• Mike (360) 317-6688
• Margie (971) 317-9135
• or email [email protected]

Darlene Ann Workman Erickson Demello​, age 82, a devoted sister, mother and grandmother, graduated to her heavenly home on March 10th, 2018 in Mill Creek WA. She was born on July 17, 1935 in Friday Harbor, Washington to parents Leslie & Rose (Nelson) Workman. She was the 2nd child of four and the only girl.

A true islander, born and raised in Friday Harbor, Darlene later moved to Maui in the 70’s where she spent majority of her adult life. She would eventually move back to Washington to be closer to her parents and sons. Her grandchildren then later followed. She still loved Hawaii and considered both home. Socializing came naturally as she exemplifies one with confidence and grace. Complementing her sense of humor was her infectious smile that could light up any room.

To have friends you must first be one. And well she had many!

Preceding her: Brothers Ronald, Richard and Robert Workman as well as Son, Daniel Erickson.

Surviving her: Son, David Erickson; 1 grandchild, Erika Erickson Freitas; 2 great grandchildren, Breanna and Keanu Freitas; 3 great-great grandchildren, Elijah, Izaiah and Izreal Freitas.

Public graveside services will held Saturday, March 24th, 11:00AM at the Friday Harbor Cemetery, 311 Madden Lane, Friday Harbor Washington.

Celebration of Life to follow from 1PM to 3PM at Downriggers Restaurant, 10 Front Street, Friday Harbor.

Theresa Carlson at Hoonieds’s children’s clothing store – SJ Update photo

There’s a new kids’ clothing store in town. It’s called “Hoonied’s”. (Pronounced Who Needs). It’s kind of a play on words like, “Who needs kids clothes – cause we got ’em!”

Hoonied’s a play area for busy people? – SJ Update photo

The store is owned by Vic’s Drive-In owners Theresa and Brian Carlson and they first opened their doors on February 6th. It’s a store with new “every day” kids clothes – pants, shirts, PJ’s, socks, underwear… in sizes from infants to Size 14. It’s on Spring Street in the arcade behind the Spring Street Deli and Friday Harbor Trading Post – 135 Spring St. Suite F.

For you busy parents (or for you with busy children) there is a play area to keep the kids entertained while you shop. Store hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm.

Thinking about having a booth at the San Juan County Fair this year? Booth spaces are filling up faster than ever before so act now! This year’s Fair dates are August 15th – 18th with the Fair theme of “Rockin the Salish Sea” highlighting aquaculture, Salish sea conservation, and of course great (Rockin’) music!

For more information on vendor booths and to see a current map of what is available, visit the Fair’s website vendor page http://www.sjcfair.org/p/fair-event/vendor-information. Have a question about the Fair? Email [email protected].

**Also accepting entertainment/performer applications! Click here!**

San Juan Island School District School Board and Superintendent Communique

Wednesday, February 28, 2018 – The San Juan Island School District School Board met at 3:00 pm for a workshop to review the levy fact sheet in preparation for informational presentations to service clubs. These details also be shared with community stakeholders and community groups in the upcoming weeks.

A question was raised concerning responding to letters to the Board. The Board takes all input seriously and makes decisions that are most beneficial to the entire district.

The regularly scheduled 5:00 pm School Board meeting, held the same day in the middle school commons was very short and sweet. The highlight was the sixth grade team of teachers sharing how well the transition to the middle school has gone. Several letters from students were read by the teachers which demonstrated how wholeheartedly the students have embraced their new school home. The enthusiasm of the teachers also corroborated the success of the move.

Thursday, March 15, 2018 – The Board met for a community workshop on the school budget, legislative changes, and levy information. Board Chair Ralph Hahn, Superintendent Danna Diaz, and Business Manager Jose Domenech each participated in presenting information. Board Chair Hahn indicated that there would be another community budget meeting later in the spring, once additional fiscal information is available.

Crown Jewel Wilderness: Creating North Cascades National Park by Lauren Danner

Griffin Bay Bookstore and the San Juan Island Library invite all the park’s aficionados to attend a book talk and slide show with author Lauren Danner at the Library on Wednesday, March 21, 7:00 pm. If you spend time in the park or simply drive over the North Cascades Highway, you’ll surely enjoy hearing Lauren talk about the park’s creation and what makes it unique.

The North Cascades National Park celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018, and a new book by Lauren Danner, Crown Jewel Wilderness: Creating North Cascades National Park, offers the first comprehensive account of its creation—a narrative that involves more than a decade of grassroots activism and political maneuvering.

Widely considered the first wilderness national park in the United States, its most scenic and undisturbed areas were preserved without roads or other accommodations, adding to its crown jewel image. The story includes the unprecedented turn of events that left the National Park Service and United States Forest Service, agencies that often had adversarial viewpoints and objectives, working side by side.

Remote, rugged, and spectacularly majestic, with stunning alpine meadows and jagged peaks that soar beyond ten thousand feet, the North Cascades range benefited from geographic isolation that shielded its mountains from extensive resource extraction and development. Efforts to establish a park began as early as 1892, but gained traction after World War II, and author Lauren Danner explores major influences leading to its designation. Continue Reading

L-R: Steve Hushebeck, Joy Sevier, Karl Bruno, Gail Schnee, Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso, Heather Easley, Dave Staehlin, Debbi Staehlin, Mayor Farhad Ghatan, Victoria Compton, Becki Day, Scott Sluis and Brenda Sorensen – SJ Update photo

Dave and Debbi Staehlin and Heather Easley have now opened the Friday Harbor Trading Post. (They actually have been open for a while, but now they’re officially open – the ribbon cutting ceremony was yesterday.) It’s on Spring Street across from King’s Market, where the General Store used to be.

It’s a convenience store with a few extras. Home-made donuts are sure to be one of their main attractions, as well as a large variety of wines and some beers you likely won’t find elsewhere on the island.

They have some jams and other goodies from Orcas Island’s “Girl Meets Dirt” and also quite a few products that tagged along from their previous store, My R/C Vision.

And then all the usual stuff you would expect to find at a convenience store – chips, sodas, jerky, cigarettes, etc.

Lunch at the Mullis Center – Peggy Sue McRae photo

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

On Wednesday, March 21 the Mullis Center invites you to join the fun and help raise money for our senior nutrition program including the popular hot lunches on Mondays and Thursdays and home delivered meals known as “meals on wheels”.

Beginning at noon, the One More Time Band will set the mood with their big band swing era jazz sound and while dressing up is not required, you are invited to interpret a 1930s theme. Think Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, or Guys and Dolls.

The menu features appetizers including focaccia bread with pesto, mozzarella, tomato, salami, cream cheese, and Spanish olives. The main course of seared chicken breast will be served with garlic mashed potatoes and roasted summer squash, a salad bar, and for desert, Black Forest cherry cake. There will also be three gift baskets to be raffled off to lucky winners.

Our senior nutrition program receives about a third of its funding from the federal government. The rest comes from donations, grants, and city or county sources. Monday and Thursday lunches are so popular (8,403 meals served in 2017) the hope is to expand this program to include three lunches a week. Meals on wheels (1609 meals delivered in 2017) are available to homebound people on regular lunch days.

One More Time Band – Mark Gardener photo

Tickets for this special luncheon are $15. You can purchase tickets at the Mullis Center Office, open M-F 9am – 4pm or call to reserve your ticket. For more information please call the senior office 360-378-2677.