From Katie at the Friends of the San Juan…

Say No To Straws! Artwork by Ella

Plastics Reduction Community Kick-off Party – February 13, 6 p.m., San Juan Island Brewing Company

Did you know that we use over 500 million plastic straws in the United States every day? And that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic trash in the ocean than fish? San Juan Island Brewing Company and Friends of the San Juans are teaming up to help businesses in our community “stop sucking” and take action to reduce waste by getting rid of plastic straws and utensils. Cities including Miami, San Diego, and Seattle are participating in similar initiatives.

Join us at the brewery on February 13 at 6 p.m. to learn more about the effort and how it will prevent plastic from polluting ocean waters and threatening marine life. Artwork by Spring Street International students will be showcased. Attendees will also vote on the best imagery for the community campaign and help develop a slogan.

Click here: for more information 
Learn more about: ocean plastics 

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer the Washington Basic Boater Education Course on San Juan Island at Skagit Valley College, San Juan Center. Everyone wishing to learn or share their safe boating skills and review our local boating regulations is invited to attend.

All Washington residents must carry a Boater Education Card while on the water operating a power-boat greater than 15 horsepower. This includes people over 12 years of age and born after January 1, 1955.

Upon successful completion of the course, attendees may submit a copy of their individual “Certificate of Accomplishment” with $10 for a Boater Education Card from the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission.

By getting your card, you help to ensure that our waterways are the safest they can be. You may also be able to reduce your boating insurance costs.

Date:            March 3, Saturday
Time:           8:30 AM – 4:00 PM     
Location:   Skagit Valley College, 221 Weber Way, SJI
Cost:            Free. Bring sack lunch & beverage. Coffee provided

Call to register: John Salinas, 360-378-0182 [email protected]
Susan Eberhard, 360-378-3608
Link to: Boater Education

Adventures in Boating Washington Handbook: The Official Boating Handbook of the Washington State Parks – Web Version

Great news from Tanja at the Land Bank…

On the heels of the Zylstra Lake acquisition, the San Juan County Land Bank was able to secure and additional 60+ acres adjacent to Mount Grant Preserve.

Mt Grant Preserve – Contributed photo

“Mount Grant is one of the most fascinating projects I have worked on since becoming a land bank commissioner,” said commissioner Amanda Azous. “The people and land connections forged by our community on behalf of Mount Grant have far exceeded original goals. As a neighbor I relish that we have protected valuable native forests and wildflower meadows as well as incomparable views we can all enjoy.”

The 30-acre area north of the Preserve will provide access to the lower portion of Mount Grant, aiding in the ecological management and stewardship of the land. The three 10-acre parcels to the west are within the Trout Lake watershed which will help protect the Town’s water supply. The Town of Friday Harbor also donated a trail easement which provides a great overlook of the lake.

To stay apprised of Mount Grant Preserve public scoping meetings, and other Land Bank happenings, contact Tanja Williamson at [email protected] or call 360-378-4402 to be added to the Land Bank’s email list.

GusGus Blair Lazzari, Year of the Earth Dog – Mike Lazzari photo

February 16 is Losar, or the Tibetan New Year, ushering in the year of the earth dog. According to Tibetan astrology the year of the dog brings out qualities of honesty and loyalty.

Sakya Kachod Choling, Tibetan Buddhist retreat center on San Juan Island, will be celebrating Losar on Friday, February 16, at 1:30 PM with meditation, prayers, readings, and recitations in the shrine room. You may bring flowers and food offerings for the shrine and requests for prayers. Tibetan sweet rice, tea and coffee will be served following the meditation session.

The program will be repeated at 1:30 PM on Sunday, February 18, for those who cannot be here for the New Year celebration on Friday and again on every day at 1:30 PM up to and including the Day of Miracles on Friday March 2, 2018.  The merit of positive actions is said to be multiplied when created during this time.

If you are curious about Tibetan Buddhism or our center here on the island this would be an auspicious opportunity to introduce yourself to this valuable resource. Call 360-378-4059 for details and directions.

Tibetan Buddhist retreat center on San Juan Island – Contributed photo

Chickens – Lowell Jons photo

Lowell Jons reports uncanny accuracy from the chicken coop!

The families of Lowell Jons and Jen/Gib Black share a chicken coop. For some gameday fun they had their chickens ‘lay’ the odds and winner of the Super Bowl. There are two main nesting boxes where they lay so the Eagles were given box A and Patriots box B. Whichever box had the most eggs wins, with the difference between the number of eggs being by what the difference in the score was. There are 9 chickens in the coop, though typically only 6 or 7 eggs are being laid per day.

By the middle of the day the Eagles had all the eggs in their box with 7, none for the Patriots. As the game progressed in looked as though there might well be a 7-score spread, but in the fourth quarter things changed with an Eagles field goal versus a touchdown. Indeed, the score difference was 8 by the end of the game. BUT, when Lowell got home and checked the coop, one late decider laid an egg in the Eagle’s box to make it 8 and the exact spread of the Superbowl game. The birds predicted the winner and the odds spread. They were ‘eggsactly’ right and laid a perfect spread.

Eagles win over Patriots – Lowell Jons photo

Thanks to island farmer and artisan Margaret Thorson for this photo, “The snowdrops are really beautiful this spring.”

Snowdrops – Margaret Thorson photo

Project researchers will present results from the 2017 San Juan Islands Visitor Study…

Mike Vouri with park visitors – Louise Dustrude photo

Local, state, and federal agencies that manage lands or recreation facilities in the San Juan Islands sponsored a study in 2017 to collect better information about use, impacts, visitors, and preferences for management. The study addresses several questions related to San Juan Islands tourism, public lands, and recreation areas. The goal is to describe visitor experiences on San Juan Islands public lands, their trips, their opinions about impacts or problems, and their views on management actions that might be used to address problems.

The study included:

• A survey of ferry passengers (visitors and residents)
• Surveys of visitors to attraction sites (e.g., Lime Kiln State Park, Moran State Park, Shark Reef Sanctuary)
• Counts and observations of use at attraction sites
• An inventory of accommodations on the three main islands (San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez)
• An analyses of visitation from WSF, other passenger ferries, airlines, and marinas

Information will be used to inform decisions about development (campgrounds, lodging, roads, parking), recreation uses (boating, biking, trail networks), and ways to manage or better distribute use to enhance the quality or sustainability of visitor experiences. It is anticipated to facilitate efficiencies in cooperative planning among recreation managers.

The study, funded through county lodging tax grant and National Park Service investment, is being conducted for several agencies (including San Juan County Parks, San Juan County Land Bank, San Juan Islands Visitor Bureau, Washington State Parks, WA State Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service) by Confluence Research and Consulting. For more information about the study, contact Dr. Doug Whittaker at 907-346-3769 or Dona Wuthnow, Parks & Fair Director at 360-370-7452

Public Presentations: Highlights from the study will be presented at four public events as listed below. The presentations will run about 1.25 hours, integrated with about 45 minutes of discussion.

Mon Feb 26 – 9:00 to 11:00 am – Meeting with County Council, Friday Harbor, San Juan

Mon Feb 26 – 5:30 to 7:30 pm – Senior Center, Eastsound, Orcas

Tue Feb 27 – 5:30 to 7:30 pm – Grace Episcopal Church, Lopez Village, Lopez

Wed Feb 28 – 5:30 to 7:30 pm – San Juan Public Library, Friday Harbor, San Juan

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

“Hey Sam”, they said. “Get on the bus and go on a road trip with us”, they said. “It’ll be fun.”, they said. So, I got on the bus. In Texas. That road trip took over four days!  I tell you what, all the way from Texas to Friday Harbor is down the road a fur piece. I did NOT cotton to it one bit.  I’m here at the animal shelter now, happier than a hog in mud, but hoping y’all can come pay me a visit soon and sit a spell.

Look, I’ll feel lower than a gopher hole if I don’t find my own place to call home pretty soon. I sure would like to settle down on your ranch, if’n you’ll have me.

Well. Looks like we’ve howdied, but we haven’t shook. You’d best get over here.  Until then, take some advice from a Texan; “Don’t squat on your spurs”.

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

Photo by Todd Cravens on Unsplash

Especially now with the Life Care Center closed, there may be many islanders caring for elderly parents or relatives, and even sharing their homes with them. This article written by freelance writer Jane Campbell outlines some simple but powerful steps we can take to make our homes and theirs much safer.

Did you know that falls are the top cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for senior citizens? Whether you are caring for an aging parent, or are a San Juan senior yourself, you want to know more about how to keep your home safe. Though dramatic events such as Tsunamis may be more sensational than fall-prevention, when it comes to safety falls are our number one concern. Let’s go over ways that you can create a safe home environment:

Clear Away Clutter
One recent study found that found that a significant hazard of many senior citizens homes was related to the accumulation of clutter. Difficulty with everyday tasks such as cleaning and tidying can be one of the initial signs of dementia, so if things are piling up at home, then it may be worth visiting a doctor. Unnecessary objects in the house can also lead to slips, trips, and falls. For increased home safety, create clean and open surface areas and floor spaces. Continue Reading

A San Juan County resident traveled to Los Angeles with her dog. A mishap occurred, and the dog ran off. A Los Angeles resident found the dog and called the Auditor’s office, because the dog was wearing a San Juan County dog license. Auditor staff were able to reach the dog owner using the cell phone number on the dog licensing record. Dog and owner were re-united, from 1200 miles away.

This happy ending was made possible by the purchase of a $15 dog license.

Locally, a dangerous dog attacked and killed a dairy cow on an island farm. The livestock owner was compensated $1,000 for the loss of the animal.

This ending was also made possible by the purchase of dog tags.

Funds collected under San Juan County’s dog licensing program support local shelters, compensate farmers for livestock killed by dogs, maintain the licensing program – and re-unite dogs with their owners.

All dogs in San Juan County over the age of three months are required to be licensed annually. Licenses for spayed or neutered dogs cost $15. Unneutered dog tags are $40. For better identification and added peace of mind, owners can add photos of their dogs for just $5 additional.

Get your 2018 dog license today at the following locations:

• Lopez Island: Sunset Builders, Lopez Animal Protection Society
• Orcas Island: Pawki’s for Pets, Eastsound Kennels, Orcas APS
• San Juan Island: San Juan County Auditor, Harbor Vet, Friday Harbor APS

Avoid a $10 late fee by renewing your dog license by March 31.

For more information, contact the Auditor’s Office at (360) 378-2161.

San Juan Island author, Janet Dann is proud to announce the launching of The Good Neighbors Trilogy, books written by both her father, John R. Dann, and herself, at Griffin Bay Bookstore on Saturday, February 10, 7:00 pm. Islanders who remember attending folk dancing evenings with the Danns some years ago, or who were aficionados of his novels, will surely be delighted to attend Janet Dann’s book launch for the just-published third novel in the trilogy, Debts and Vengeance.

John Dann retired to Friday Harbor in 1980 and almost immediately began on two hobbies, teaching international folk dance with his wife, Barbara, and writing. His first novel, The Good Neighbors, was based on memories of growing up on a farm in Depression-era South Dakota. He based his characters on a Romanian family because of a haunting memory he cherished from his youth: that of a Romanian family, singing and taking their children to school in a horse-drawn wagon.

After writing several novels about prehistoric man, John Dann returned to writing about Romania and South Dakota. He began the novel, Irina, about the last member of the Dacia family, introduced in the Good Neighbors. Due to failing health, John was unable to finish the story about a dancer who must flee her homeland because of persecution by the burgeoning hate group, The Iron Guard, and asked Janet to do so. As Janet acknowledges: “It was a long haul,” several years of learning and developing new technical skills. She illustrated her father’s work and had such fun with the process that she began a third book, Debts and Vengeance, to make a trilogy: one book by her father, one by both, and one by herself. The third book ties up loose ends from Irina which have re-emerged and are causing trouble for the Dacias and their neighbors. Continue Reading

Pizza Paddle Raise Postponed

The San Juan Community Home Trust has postponed its “Have a Heart Pizza Paddle Raise” fundraiser, originally scheduled Saturday, February 10 at the San Juan Grange. It will be rescheduled at a later date.

Raffle tickets for the fun child’s battery-powered Tesla will still be available for $50 each at the Home Trust office, 435C Argyle. There are only 100 tickets available, so chances of winning it for that special child are excellent.

The raffle drawing will take place as part of the celebration when two more classic homes from the Victoria/Oak Bay areas will be barged in to Jackson Beach some time in mid-March. Look for more bulletins as this date draws closer!

The mission of the San Juan Community Trust is to create permanently affordable housing for low-to-middle income islanders who are an important fabric of our community. To tour the neighborhoods of the Home Trust–Salal off Carter and Sun Rise I and II, please call the Home Trust office, (360)378-5541.

 * * *

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.

San Juan County’s amateur radio volunteers form a critical communications link between islands and to the mainland in the event of a major emergency or outage. The San Juan County Amateur Radio Society (www.sjcars.org) is hosting a training in Friday Harbor to prepare islanders to take the Amateur Technician test. This certification allows islanders to become a part of this crucial communications system.

The four hour class is free but there is a $15 fee to the ARRL for taking the test.

To register or for details, contact Bryan Hoyer at [email protected]

Tuesday Feb 20 1:30 – 3:30
Thursday Feb 22 1:30 – 3:30
Test: Saturday Feb 2/24 9:30 – 10:30

Class Location: 

Friday Harbor Labs: Commons

Campus Map: https://fhl.uw.edu/about/campus-map/

Spring highway construction will affect San Juan Islands and north Whidbey Island vacationers

A large Connecting Washington project will cause delays on Highway 20, just east of Anacortes from early April into July. WSDOT contractor crews from Tapani, Inc. will build two new roundabouts in the area of SR 20 and the SR 20 Spur (the intersection in Skagit County where you turn south toward Oak Harbor). 

 You can prepare for trips during construction by:

• Leaving yourself plenty of extra time to make your Anacortes ferry reservation (there are public parks, a library and/or coffee shops in Anacortes if you end up with extra time).
• Avoiding travel through the area during peak periods (such as Friday afternoons) – consider going a day or even a few hours earlier to beat the rush.

If you would like more information on the project , stay tuned via the @WSDOT_north Twitter account, the construction web page, or attend one of WSDOT’s upcoming public meetings:

• Friday Harbor Public Meeting
  Tuesday, Feb. 13, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
  Brickworks
  150 Nichols St, Friday Harbor
• Anacortes Public Meeting
  Tuesday, Jan 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  Anacortes Middle School
  2202 M Ave, Anacortes
• Whidbey Island Public Meeting
  Wednesday, Jan. 31, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  North Whidbey Middle School
  67 NE Izett St, Oak Harbor

Valentines are not just for sweethearts; they are a caring gesture for anyone you cherish. And to help you express your affections, our entire chorus will arrive at your home, business or at your dinner date in our snappy costumes, with a fresh rose and a couple of special songs to serenade one, two or multitudes!

The “Island Chordsmen Plus” is an A Cappella group as well as a Barbershop chorus and offer both contemporary love songs like “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”; John Denver’s “Annie’s Song” or “Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis, as well as classic Barbershop songs like “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and “Only a Rose.”

If you think you have all your Valentines needs covered, consider providing a singing treat for someone in a care facility, perhaps someone you don’t know, but who may no longer have a sweetheart to remember them.

We’ll be singing on Saturday, February 10th and Valentine’s Day, February 14th anywhere on San Juan Island. Call Holly at (360) 370-5544 or (360) 298-4682 to reserve a spot or for more information.

Candidates Named for OPALCO Election; Nominations by Petition due 2/23

The volunteer member Elections & Governance Committee has selected two candidates as nominees for the OPALCO Board of Directors election, District 2 (Orcas, Armitage, Big Double, Blakely, Fawn, Little Double and Obstruction islands), in April 2018. The following were nominated by a vote of the committee: Richard (Rick) Christmas and Jeffrey L. Struthers.

There is still time for members to declare their candidacy for the board election. Nominations by petition are due on February 23, 2018 at 12:00 PT (noon). Co-op members from District 2 may submit their candidacy by

1. collecting no fewer than 20 names and signatures of OPALCO members who live in their district on a petition; and
2. completing the nominations app at https://opalco.directnominations.net/.

Get more information on OPALCO’s nominations process online: www.opalco.com/election-process-for-directors/.

Candidate forums are scheduled during the week of March 12-16^th on four islands to meet the candidates in person. Ballots and voting materials for the 2018 election will be sent to members on March 29^th, and posted online at www.opalco.com. The election opens on March 29^th and ballots are due online or by mail no later than 10:00 am PT. Election results will be announced on Saturday, April 21^st at OPALCO’s Annual Meeting on the WSF Tillikum.