Karyn Moreno welcomes you to the new restaurant “Hermosa” – SJ Update photo

There’s a new Mexican restaurant in town. It’s called Hermosa and it’s down there where Pablito’s used to be, behind the Golden Triangle. It’s owned by Ernest and Karyn Moreno and they’re having their soft opening this weekend.

Today through Sunday they will be open 11am – 5pm. On Monday they will be closed to regroup and then Tuesday they will open for the rest of the week, 11am – 7pm, and those will be their hours in the future, Wednesdays through Mondays (Closed Tuesdays).

Coming soon will be a bar upstairs with later hours once they have their liquor license.

Currently on their menu: Tamales, Street Tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas and a Hermosa exclusive: the ¡Tamarrìto! – A Burrito Grande “spiked” with a pan-fried tamale! Choose pork, chicken, beef or vegan options.

Joan Petersen White, age 76, died on March 10, 2018 in her home with friends by her side. Joan was born on August 25, 1941 in Watsonville, California to Jeanne Sambuck Petersen and Allan Edwin Petersen.

Joan grew up in Watsonville and after graduating college, she owned and operated an agricultural produce transportation business for 21 years. In 1989, Joan married Phil White, her high school sweetheart and in 1991 they moved to Friday Harbor and began a new life together. Joan and Phil loved their life in Friday Harbor, and they were an integral part of the community doing what they loved best: having fun and being of service.

Joan’s personality and love of planes and flying that she shared with Phil were a perfect fit for her and Kenmore Air and the Friday Harbor Air Terminal. For 24 years she greeted passengers and oversaw ground handling of planes at the Friday Harbor Airport. She continued there on weekends even after she moved into the legal field. She is remembered for “turning triple sections” and showing up at the terminal in her pajamas at night to help out when needed. In her resignation letter she stated: “I am proud to have been part of the Kenmore Family and my service to the passengers and the airport community”. The Friday Harbor Airport community was very special to Joan and every Sunday she would bring donuts for all and tend to the airport’s Memorial rose garden and terminal plants. Continue Reading

3 homes arrived by barge in 2016, 2 for the Home Trust, and 1 for another party – Aaron Shepard photo

– This story has been updated since it was first published –

The San Juan Community Home Trust continues to barge ahead! Everyone is invited to see the exciting arrival of the Nickel Bros. barge at Jackson Beach, Wednesday, March 21, beginning at approximately 5:30 AM. The early time is to coincide with the high tide.

On board will be two “new” classic homes, St. Patrick and McNeill, named after the streets in the Victoria/Oak Bay area from whence they came. They will join the other classic homes in the Sun Rise II neighborhood just off Grover Street.

It is expected to take approximately four hours to begin the actual move to the Sun Rise II site–another exciting, sometimes breath-catching process! If all goes as planned, the homes will be at Sun Rise II around 10 AM.

The community is invited to join in, and enjoy coffee, pastries and the wonderful music of Teddy Deane at Sun Rise II, 473 Grover St. The drawing for the child’s toy Tesla will also be held. Raffle tickets for this unique little car are still available at the Home Trust office, or at the celebration for $50 each (only 100 tickets to be sold).

If you are not able to attend this unique happening, you are more than welcome to stop by later. Better yet, call the Home Trust office—360-378-5541–to arrange for a tour.

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Founded in 2001, the San Juan Community Home Trust was created by San Juan Island activists for the purpose of creating permanently affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents–promoting economic diversity and development, and supporting a sustainable island community while practicing responsible stewardship of the rural environment. In the years since, the Home Trust has built the Salal and Sun Rise I neighborhoods, and is currently working to complete Sun Rise II.

Conrad and Sandy – Contributed photo

The staff and four-legged residents of the animal shelter are pleased to announce Conrad Bormann is March’s Volunteer of the Month for The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor.  

Conrad is a frequent visitor to the animal shelter, where he spends his time walking dogs, cleaning kennels, and doing odd jobs to help out.

He is a particular favorite of Sandy’s, shown at right with Conrad, because he always takes time for a quiet snuggle with her after he takes her for a nice, long walk.

Thank you so much, Conrad

Beginning at 10:00am on Wednesday, March 21st, OPALCO members can purchase units of the Co-op’s first Community Solar project, while they last. To get yours, go to www.opalco.com/solar and fill out the participation agreement (live 3/21). The one-time cost to participate is $150 per unit (75W) and members can purchase multiple units in this 350KW array.

How does it work? In a nutshell, the OPALCO solar array produces electricity. The electricity produced becomes virtual net metering credits. The credits are applied to members’ electric bills, based on how many units are purchased. The simple payback on members’ investment is estimated at 10.2 years and the term of the project is 20 years.

To learn more and to explore the cost and benefits of the Community Solar project, please go to www.opalco.com/solar. Use the solar calculator tool (live 3/21) to explore cost and savings based on the number of units or the percentage that your solar investment would offset your power bill. Detailed information and Frequently Asked Questions are also posted online. Continue Reading

Erin Corra is on the hunt for some video. Do you have any to share? Here’s her request…

Hello and happy almost spring,

Curious if you have any decent mp4 footage of surface activity of these critters…. We are on the mad hunt to update the video station at Lime Kiln’s Interpretive Center.

Credit will be placed on the screen that thousands of park visitors will see and learn from.

Here’s the list –

• Orca (SRKW & Biggs)
• Humpback Whale
• Minke Whale
• Gray Whale
• Pacific White Sided Dolphin
• Dalls Porpoise
• Harbor Porpoise
• Harbor Seal
• Steller Sea Lion
• California Sea Lion
• Elephant Seal
• River Otter
• Sea Otter
• Mink

Feel free to share… Thanks!

Erin Corra
Founder/Executive Director
FOLKS – Friends Of Lime Kiln Society
San Juan Island, WA
(360)378-5154
FolksSJI.org

Egg dyeing will take place at Station 31 on Friday, March 30, at 5PM. All community members, young and old, are invited to join in the fun and creativity. 

The Easter egg hunt will be Sunday, April 1, at 1PM at Jackson’s Beach. Over 1,500 dyed eggs will be hidden, along with plastic eggs that can be turned in for toy prizes or special fire safety prizes. 

EDC presents Mission: Advertising workshop

Business owners are invited to join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) for Mission: Advertising, a free workshop on advertising and marketing for small businesses, on Wednesday, March 28th from 9 a.m. until noon. 

Participants will learn the effective techniques and media they can use to build their businesses using print media, social marketing, blogging, direct marketing, advertising specialties and more.  Also taught will be methods to leverage public and press relations to help grow business, and best practices in enterprise reputation management.

Featuring noted advertising experts, Colleen Armstrong, Sound Publishing; Jack Cory, Island Guardian; Kris Brown, Printonyx; Tim Dustrude, San Juan Update; Chris Reed, San Juan County SCORE counselor; and Victoria Compton, EDC, this workshop is sure to give participants the tools they need to boost their businesses.

Date:  Wednesday, March 28^th, 9 a.m. until noon.   Cost:  Free, advance registration required.  The class will be held at the Friday Harbor Grange, 152 1st Street, San Juan Island.  For more information and to register:  360-378-2906 or [email protected]. 

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County.  We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.  

Becki Day with the SJI Chamber of Commerce passed along this bit of good news…

Kirk House Bed & Breakfast Wins 2018 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award For Hotels

Kirk House Bed & Breakfast today announced it has been recognized as a winner in the B & Bs and Inns category of the 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice® awards for Hotels, ranking #20 out of 25 in the United States. Travelers’ Choice award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. In the 16th year of the awards, TripAdvisor has highlighted the world’s top 8,095 properties in 94 countries and 8 regions worldwide.

This year, the awards celebrate Hotel winners in 10 categories, including Top Hotels Overall, Luxury, Bargain, Small, Best Service, B&Bs and Inns, Romance, Family, All-Inclusive, and Value for Money. The hallmarks of Travelers’ Choice hotels winners are remarkable service, value, and quality.

“The Kirk House Bed & Breakfast is honored to be recognized in TripAdvisor’s 2018 top 25 B & Bs and Inns in the United States. Our 1907 Craftsman style house provides you the opportunity to enjoy original Arts & Crafts décor of a bygone era in the quaint town of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. In one of four rooms, you can relax in charming ambiance. When outside, enjoy our beautiful garden, seating areas, or wrap around veranda. Thank you to all of our guests for submitting your wonderful reviews and making this award so meaningful. We so appreciate you!” Doug & Roxy Kasman, Proprietors, Kirk House Bed & Breakfast. Continue Reading

Highlights of today’s demonstration at the high school track honoring the seventeen slain students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

A memorial service for Joan White will be held on Saturday March 17, at 1:30pm, at the Friday Harbor Airport Terminal Lobby. All are invited to attend. An obituary will be published soon.

From filmmaker Mark Kitchell (Berkeley in the Sixties, A Fierce Green Fire) comes a new film: Evolution of Organic. Narrated by Frances McDormand, It’s the story of organic agriculture, told by those who built the movement. A motley crew of back-to- the-landers, spiritual seekers and farmers’ sons and daughters reject chemical farming and set out to explore organic alternatives.

It’s a heartfelt journey of change, from a small band of rebels to a cultural transformation in the way we grow and eat food. By now organic has gone mainstream, split into an industry oriented toward bringing organic to all people and a movement that has realized a vision of sustainable agriculture. It’s the most popular and successful outgrowth of the environmental impulse of the last fifty years.

Join us at the San Juan Island Grange Thursday, March 22nd for a screening of this film, which is getting an enthusiastic reception at festivals! The evening will take place at the SJI Grange, 152 1st St, beginning at 5:30 PM with a potluck, followed by an introductory discussion of the evolution of Organic farming in the San Juans featuring tales of the earlier days by such folks as Bruce Gregory and Colleen Howe-Gregory of Mitchell Bay Farm. The film will begin at 7:00pm. Please join us when you can, drop-ins are very welcome! Continue Reading

Please join us Saturday, March 24th 7:00 PM or Sunday, March 25th 2:00 PM for a dance and music performance to benefit Island Haven Animal Sanctuary, a volunteer run, non-profit retirement home for farm animals and horses on San Juan Island. (http://www.islandhaven.org/)

Both shows will feature ballet and modern dance performed by teen and adult Dance Workshop 2 dancers, including ballerina Lydia Downs en pointe partnered by Stephen Moore in a pas de deux from The Nutcracker, performance artist Cynthia Church and professional world class middle Eastern dancer Ferah Bakuy.

Joining the program will be pianist Stella Joh Saturday evening and cellist Sasha Von Dassow Sunday matinee.

Ticket $10/each. Children under 7 are FREE.
100% of ticket price goes towards cause.

* Tickets will be available at the door 1/2 hour before each performance.

What is the relationship between your liver and the flexibility of your muscles, tendons and joints? Which parts of your nervous system most affect your balance, poise, and athleticism? In what way does clear self-expression (speaking your mind) support a clear complexion and a healthy immune response?

In this workshop series, we will focus on nourishment and protection for the vital organs (Brain, Heart, Lungs, Liver, Stomach, Spleen/Pancreas, Intestines, Kidney/Bladder).

The preservation of your muscles, joints and bones depends 100% on the health of your vital organs. Healthy vital organs guarantee extended quality of life! Are you curious to know how each of your organs affects your moods, even shapes your decision making? In this workshop you will gain such understanding. You will also learn fluid movements and breath work specially designed for the optimal health of your organs. Continue Reading