Photo credit: Jim Corenman

Peg Gerlock and Jim Corenman share an in-depth look back at this year’s Shaw Island Classic yacht race, hosted by the San Juan Island Yacht Club.

Blue skies, sunshine and predictions of uniform, northerly winds blowing eight to ten knots in San Juan Channel had racers smiling in anticipation of a perfect day for the long-awaited 50th annual Shaw Island Classic yacht race. Hosted by the San Juan Island Yacht Club, celebration of the 50th race was delayed two years due to COVID. The unofficial 49-1/2 and 49-3/4 Un-Shaw races in 2020 and 2021 provided an opportunity to escape the craziness, enjoy fresh air sailing, and keep racing skills sharp.

This race is unique in that Shaw Island is the only mark and can be rounded in either direction. It is only a 13-mile course, but shifting winds, variable currents, narrow rocky channels, and ferry traffic often turn it into a nautical chess game.

The fleet of 31 boats was split on the best way to round Shaw with 17 heading clockwise up San Juan Channel into the wind on a light flood. The other 14 hoisted chutes, put up spinnakers or stretched out on a broad reach in hopes of clearing Turn Rock and picking up the flood in Upright Channel.

“One of the things that makes this race special is meeting the counter course fleet halfway,” said Mike Kaminskas, skipper of Homeless Hare, who placed first overall on corrected time and first in the PHRF-B division. “I always love finding out how we are doing. If we are not yet at the halfway point, I say Here comes the easy part, but if we are beyond the halfway point it’s, Here comes the hard part!”

Nigel Oswald, skipper of Makika and first place finisher in the multihull division added, “Clockwise was definitely the way to go! I think we may have had one of the most pleasant Wasp Passage passages in memory, just a hole at the entrance and exit but a lovely kite run through.”

The mid-course committee boat reported that all the clockwise boats passed the halfway point before any of the counterclockwise fleet, which was stalled in Upright Channel. “The hardest part was Upright Channel,” said Betsy Wareham, skipper of Purple Martin and first place finisher in the PHRF-C division. “No wind, puffs from any direction. We just tried to connect the puffs and managed to get through.” Continue Reading

The Friday Harbor Film Festival shares news about their ongoing Director Series.

Janis: Little Girl Blue, Friday Harbor Film Festival’s next offering in The Director Series, will appeal to lovers of music, especially rock & roll.

This film documents Janis Joplin’s evolution into a star from letters that she wrote to her friends, family, and collaborators. One of the most revered and iconic rock & roll singers of all time, she thrilled audiences and blazed new creative trails before her death in 1971 at age 27. Oscar-nominated director Amy Berg examines Joplin’s story in depth, presenting an intimate portrait of a complicated and driven artist.  Narrated by musician Cat Power, the film uses Joplin’s own words to tell much of the film’s story through a series of letters she wrote to her parents over the years, many of them made public here for the first time.

“The only way to tell Janis’ story was through Janis’ voice,” Berg says. “Her letters show the vulnerable artist, daughter, and lover Janis was in her short but impactful life.”

Joplin was a powerhouse when she sang, and her meteoric rise and untimely demise changed music forever.

Following a free online showing tomorrow from 6:30 to 9 p.m., stream the film on demand from Aug. 12 through Aug. 24 for $1.95.

Freezer Burned is an ongoing series for the San Juan Update, written by Steve Ulvi. Read the previous story in this series.

The Hendersen Homestead

Sonny had been unexpectedly energized by meeting Natalie Henderson on the river. It dawned on him that he could be rejuvenated by staying over with this dynamic family. Besides, there were simple amenities that he had not even considered. The delights of a hot shower, soaking the stink out of his clothes, a comfortable bed and sit-down meals for starters. Repairing his clothes and equipment. He could give of himself freely without regard to a social balance sheet as tended to be the case in a small village.

Something else stirred within him; a slight flutter of emotional attraction. He felt a subtle thrill; that warm sensation, endorphins, magnetic attraction or whatever it was, in encountering Natalie in her element, out on the Kuuk. For the first time he saw her as an intriguing young woman. His perception of her had been based upon infrequent youthful encounters over the years and had been unremarkable. In the moment, the setting stripped away preconceived notions and for the first time saw her as a grown woman completely at home in the woods; confident, strong and brim-full of life, with a captivating light emanating from her pale blue eyes.

As the sound and exhaust odors of the machine died away he picked up his pace on the fresh machine trail that lined along the east bank. No need for a headlamp as yet. The sky had dimmed to murky grey to the south and now bright stars overhead began to blur. The green curtains of northern lights over the distant Brooks Range would soon be obscured by cloud layers silently invading. The timing of taking a needed break, embraced in the warmth of family and comfortable lodging during a storm, was a welcome coincidence.

His shoulders felt less furrowed by his pack straps as he found a second wind while picking up his pace, determined to make a mile or two before Natalie returned. Some pride on the line. He realized the clarity and elation resulting when a person’s world view is cleansed; social filters and patterns of close relationships in village life, family dynamics, cultural expectations all reordered by aloneness and the clarity of wilderness immersion. Continue Reading

• OPALCO says that the Aug. 6 power outage on San Juan Island was due to a foreign object interfering with the island’s transmission line. The crew spent several hours narrowing down and patrolling the line section where the fault happened, although the object that caused the issue was never found. After patrolling and ensuring the lines were clear, crews began re-powering the island in phases, restoring full service by 12:30 a.m.
• Jane Fuller — who is running for County Council in District 3 in the November election — will be attending each day of the County Fair, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Gazebo near the Food Court. She invites community members to share with her their thoughts and ideas on the future of the County.
• Peace Island Medical Center is holding a half-day sports physical clinic for established patients in grades 6-12 in the afternoon on Monday, Aug. 29. The exams cost $40 and are not typically covered by insurance. Call 360-378-1756 to schedule an appointment.
• Together with San Juan Island National Historic Park, the Library is hosting a virtual event titled Anatomy of a Prairie tonight on Zoom at 7 p.m. The event looks at what prairies are, how they work, and why they matter. Email [email protected] to register.
• Island Rec is looking for paddlers ages 16 and up that are interested in getting on the water through its introductory outrigger canoe class, which happens on Wednesday, Aug. 24 from 5 to 7 p.m., leaving from Shipyard Cove. No prior experience is needed and life jackets will be provided for paddlers who do not have their own. The early registration price of $27 expires tomorrow; after that it’s $32. You can register on the Island Rec website.
• The fall edition of the Great Islands Clean-up will take place this year on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Here are the week’s specials from Market Place and Kings.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

Contributed photo

SJCT shares news about an upcoming production starring some of our community’s youngest performers.

Participants from San Juan Community Theatre’s Theatre Arts for Kids program will perform Disney’s Frozen Jr. this week from Thursday, Aug. 11 through Sunday, Aug. 14.

Young actors ages seven to 18 auditioned for the opportunity to participate in a three-week intensive musical theatre camp for a performance directed by Chiara Power with music direction from Presley Clark. Power and Clark are both SJCT Theatre Arts for Kids veterans with a wealth of musical theatre experience and a passion for teaching. This family-friendly show is based on the Broadway musical and the wildly popular animated feature film full of heartfelt songs, hilarious characters, and a touching story of sisterhood. Young audiences are encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters as there will be a Frozen-themed photo booth available.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for youth and students. The show on Thursday is pay-what-you-can admission at the door. Tickets are available online or by calling 360-378-3210.

The County sends along news about a free vaccination clinic taking place in September.

San Juan County Health and Community Services is providing free childhood vaccines for K-12 students at a back-to-school clinic on San Juan Island on Sept. 1. The clinic is free and no appointment is needed. Immunizations will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

The clinic will take place at the Health and Community Services office at 145 Rhone St. from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All children in Washington are eligible for free routine childhood vaccinations through the Vaccines for Children program. HCS will not be charging vaccine administration fees at these back-to-school clinics. If you are not sure which vaccines your child needs, HCS public health nurses will be able to discuss vaccine schedules with you and can help look up your child’s vaccine record. If you have other vaccine questions prior to the clinics, you may reach a public health nurse by calling 360-370-7511.

A Townsend’s Big Eared Bat, the rarest bat in the San Juan Islands — Contributed photo

Russel Barsh of Kwaiht shares insights into the late summer activity of some of San Juan Island’s most interesting residents.

Encounters with bats inside island homes peak in mid- to late August each year. Biologists at Kwiaht study the diets and health of island bats, and the explanation is simple.

After a two-month pregnancy beginning as early as mid-April, but more often in mid- to late May, mouse-eared bats return to the maternity roost one or twice each night to nurse their pups for up to a month before the young bats can begin to fly and feed on their own. Here in the islands, most bat pups fledge in August and, if they survive, grow to adult size by the time that their mothers are ready to disperse for the winter.

Naïve young bats, like fledgling birds, are at first somewhat clumsy flyers, complicated by the need to learn how to navigate in the dark by echolocation. In addition, like human teenagers, young bats are curious to the point of recklessness as they explore the world that lays outside the enclosed roost in which they have lived thus far. Although they learn very quickly, young bats are more likely than experienced adults to fly into open unscreened windows, doors, and chimneys — or to pop through a tiny crack in a ceiling that separates an attic or crawlspace roost from rooms occupied by their unwitting human hosts.

At this stage of life, young bats are still quite small and have flexible bones like hard rubber, so that they can squeeze through surprisingly narrow openings. And while they are not yet expert navigators and pilots like their mothers, they fly swiftly and almost silently. Opening a door for an evening dog walk can be enough for a young bat to dive inside for a look.

Once inside a room, young bats frequently cannot relocate their point of entry, especially if it was a temporarily open door or window. Bright lights also confuse them; their eyes and ears are giving them conflicting information. Panicking, a young bat will seek a high point near the ceiling, such as a beam or a small niche, where it will try to hide. If it does not find its way out in a few days, it will die of dehydration; bats must drink almost nightly.

Give trapped baby bats a break by opening a nearby window, turning off all lights, and leaving the room for at least 15 to 20 minutes after twilight. Left to itself in the dark, young bats can find the open window acoustically — like sonar — and will take the opportunity to go out in search of fresh water and flying food. Avoid handling bats; they are very fragile, especially the thin bones in their wings, and that’s when people get bitten. No rabid bats have been found in the islands, but people and bats share other diseases as well.

If you want to learn more, help the island conservation laboratory Kwiaht expand its bats-and-bees technical assistance program for homeowners, gardeners and farmers. Kwiaht is raising money through the San Juan Island Community Foundation’s 2022 County Fair Giving Campaign, which will match the first $1,000 in donations dollar-for-dollar.

To be eligible, donations must be made during the 2022 County Fair, August 17–20. Donations can be made in person at the SJICF booth at the Fair; online at the SJICF website; by phone at 360-378-1001; or by mailing a check payable to SJICF (and dated between August 17–20) with Kwiaht in the memo line to P.O. Box 1352, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

And if you find a trapped, injured or ill bat, phone Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at 360-378-5000. They have expertise to handle and help bats in need of medical attention. Consider a donation to Wolf Hollow as well.

The Waste Reduction Team from Transition San Juan Island shares an update about how this year’s San Juan County Fair fits into ongoing conservation efforts here on the island.

There is one annual event that uniquely celebrates the many blessings of the good life in our small community. Since 1906, the San Juan County Fair has rarely been disrupted – only during the two World Wars and the COVID-19 pandemic. After nearly three years, this return to a four-day celebration for islanders by islanders feels wonderfully familiar. And if you think about the ramifications of large public gatherings through a lens of resource conservation and community resilience, as we do, you will be pleased to know that significant changes are afoot.

Many people are working hard to make this year’s renewal of the mid-August tradition a reality. There are also important developments behind the scenes with the old infrastructure and management practices at the County Fairgrounds. Our group, the Waste Reduction Team within Transition San Juan Island, feels strongly that fairgrounds and the fair itself ought to be a showcase of community innovation and adaptation in challenging times.

There will be booths, diet-busting food, music, electioneering, fun rides, displays of remarkable community talents and of course the quirky homegrown events like the Zucchini 500 and Trashion Fashion. The latter spectacle was born in New Zealand in 2004 as an effort to highlight reducing solid waste by reusing and repurposing items found in the trash to fabricate unique garments – an ecological fashion statement. Make no mistake, we love the event, as it sheds an oblique light on our prodigious waste stream here.

For the first time there will be food waste receptacles for composting and other containers to separate out recycling and trash. The compostable food scraps will go to Skagit Soils. Fair staff and volunteers ask for your help to make this a success. Stop in at the Department of Environmental Stewardship booth to take the Compost Facility Survey and let them know what you think about the effectiveness of comingled recycling. What do you think about a glass grinding facility on San Juan Island? Did you know that glass and compostable waste comprise just about 50 percent of our total waste stream by weight?

Many food vendors are following the state law to only offer single-use plastic utensils if requested. Spend your money with those vendors, commend them for reducing waste and the high trash costs incurred by islanders. Bring your own water bottle, washable utensils and a reusable bag for your fair bling.

We trust that you will take pride in the impressive new solar array capturing the power of the sun on the roof of the main fairground building. Inquire about other efforts to remodel fairgrounds buildings to lessen precious water and fossil energy use. Take a moment to chat with our OPALCO representatives about innovative projects, opportunities to save money while conserving energy, and the critical importance of rate negotiations with the Bonneville Power Administration looming in 2028. Finally, don’t forget to visit the Stewardship Network’s Green Village for inspiration from local groups making a tangible difference.

Eric Stone shares good news from Camp Bogardus, where the island’s scouting organization has been using state grant funds to provide unique experiences for off-island youth.

Last year the nonprofit Troop 90 Trust, which owns and operates a 15-acre Scout camp on the westside of San Juan Island for the benefit of local Troop 4090, was awarded a $25,000 grant from the State of Washington Recreation and Conservation Office. The No Child Left Inside program grant is aimed at getting low-income and minority youth out of the home and into nature.

Thus far, Camp Bogardus has hosted grant-eligible troops from Okanogan, Omak, Grand Coulee, Tonasket, and Seattle’s Rainier Valley. More than 100 youth have been able to make the trip of a lifetime to the San Juan Islands, enjoying sea kayaking, whale watching tours, mountain biking, hiking, and interacting with local wildlife.

Because most of the businesses that the Troop 90 Trust is working with are local, nearly all of state grant funds are being spent here on San Juan Island.

The funds provided by the state have also been significantly augmented by the generous support of our chartering organization, American Legion Post 163, as well as the local businesses and nonprofits who have provided us with discounts on purchases, rentals, and programs. These organizations include Ace Hardware, Harbor Rentals, Browne’s Home Center, Frontier Lumber, San Juan Safaris, San Juan Island Outfitters, Cycle San Juan, the National Park Service, and Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

It’s good news all around. Not only is this program hosted by our local Scout troop helping low-income youth from around the state, it’s also boosting the local economy and introducing a new generation of young people to the wonderful place we call home.

The Madrona Institute sends along news about the registration process for San Juan Islands-themed license plates, the annual fees from which help benefit local nonprofits.

Don’t miss the opportunity to show off your island pride and support local conservation and stewardship programs with a San Juan Islands license plate. You can sign up at the San Juan County Fair from Aug. 17-20, where the Madrona Institute will host a booth of helpers to get you registered for a license plate featuring San Juan Island artist Nancy Spaulding’s painting Evening Passage.

The initial cost for plates ranges between $65.25 and $117.25 for plates with the next available number, depending on your vehicle type. Personalized plates cost between $117.25 and $169.25.

If your tabs expire in six months or less, you can save money by getting your new plates and tabs at the same time.

$28 from each tab renewal goes to support Madrona Institute grants, which totaled $22,500 to local organizations in the first year of grantmaking. Recipients for 2022 include the San Juan Islands Conservation District (Youth Conservation Corps), the Friends of the San Juans (Youth Environmental Mentoring Program), Alchemy Art Center (Young Environmentalists Art Intensive & Exhibit Program), the Coast Salish Youth Stewardship Corps operated by the Madrona Institute, and the Indigenous Education Institute (Indigenous speaker series, titled A Sense of Place in the Pacific Northwest: Indigenous Perspectives on Land, Water, and Sky).

Awards are made on an annual basis for local projects and programs that support the conservation and stewardship of agricultural, cultural, historic, and natural resources in the islands, with emphasis on youth engagement. It is expected that grantmaking will increase each year as plate sales increase across the county, region, and state.

If you have stories of your favorite jaunts in the islands with your San Juan Islands license plate, visit the Madrona Institute’s booth at the fair, where they will be gathering stories of your favorite trips and island experiences for their new blog series featuring islanders on the road. You can also share your stories by email.

The organizers of the Summer Film Series at San Juan Community Theatre send along a preview of this week’s film. The showing starts at 7 p.m. Admission is pay-what-you-can. For this season only, fresh popcorn is available for free.

The Automat

Documentary — rated PG
Run time: 2 hours

This is truly my favorite movie of the year — and maybe the best film I’ve ever shown. At Horn & Hardart’s height, it was the largest restaurant chain in the United States with 150 locations — this despite being in just two cities, New York and Philadelphia — and with 800,000 people a day eating there. The director and producer, Lisa Hurwitz, takes a terrific subject and treats it with undisguised and justified affection. In addition to interviews with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Colin Powell, Elliot Gould, and Howard Schultz, we hear from former employees, social historians, even the great-grandson of one of the cofounders. There’s a wealth of news footage and period photographs.

Even more interesting is the role automats played in shaping 20th century America — welcoming immigrants, the poor (its heyday coincided with the Great Depression), Hollywood and Broadway stars, young and old — offering them quality food at affordable prices, and treating them with respect. Employees were also valued. The company arranged picnics and holiday parties, with gifts for each child, and helped pay for medical care. This is the story of America at its best. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could recapture that magic?

Finally, there is the producer and director herself. You must come just to hear how this movie came to be. I met Lisa while getting permission to screen the film and will share her story before the screening. Thanks to Alice Acheson for insisting we include this film.

The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor shares a look at the adoptable animal of the week — Holli, a 40-pound mystery mix.

This country girl is fixin’ for the quiet life. Give her sunshine, green grass, and blue seas, please. Just no noisy neighbors, ’cause all that commotion puts a damper on her gettin’ some good shut eye.

Don’t let this bumpkin’ fool you, Holli can be the life of the party — a pool party that is. This girl loves the water — splashing, digging, slurping bucket fulls, you get the idea. If she had her druthers, she would have her very own pond on her new farmstead.  

In all honesty though, Holli’s not all sunshine, rainbows, and water. It’s not to say that Holli isn’t friendly — she can dip her toes in with new people, but jumps into the deep end with new dogs. Holli’s got a whole lotta love to give, once she’s tested the waters.

Now, as y’all can imagine, the shelter is no place for a farm gal like Miss Holli. This black and tan beauty needs fresh air, freedom and a quiet place for her to live out all her sweet country dreams. So dust off your boots and come on down to the shelter and rescue this cowgirl.

Learn more about Holli here.