(The days and times below have been corrected from when this was first posted last Friday.)

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center extending flu shot clinic hours on Tuesdays for children

Caregivers at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center have provided close to 600 flu immunizations for so far this season… and they want to do more to ensure the community stays healthy all winter long.

The flu clinic hours, by appointment, are Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and, for children/students only, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,  Wednesdays, by appointment, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday is the walk-in flu clinic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., by appointment.

Severe Weather Emergency Shelter Program

Mission Statement

To provide safe, warm, and welcoming shelter during extreme weather to people who have no place else to come in from the cold.

San Juan Island has an urgent need. As you know, while we don’t have a full count yet, our homeless population has increased in previous years, with as many as ten or more people living in cars and in the woods on San Juan alone, and the numbers are on the rise. San Juan Island’s faith-based groups and other community stakeholders are leading an initiative to establish a severe weather shelter on San Juan Island.

The purpose of the shelter to house our island homeless during the coldest nights of winter, when the temperature drops below 30 degrees F. There will be separate spaces for men and women/women and children. The Grange and SJI Family Resource Center have offered space, with details yet to be worked out. We are modeling our shelter after Orcas’ program success and best practices. We want to be up and running by November 20 and will announce our blanket drive and open house for volunteers next week. Continue Reading

It’s Halloween in Friday Harbor and you know what that means… Yup! Kids on parade! Click on the images below to see who all you recognize. But it’s not only kids – after the parade you’ll see photos of adults around town who got into the halloween spirit as well. Enjoy! Continue Reading

Happy Halloween from Stillpoint School – April Embler photo

Stillpoint School shares this photo and wishes everyone a Happy Halloween! Thanks for sharing!

Andrea Hampton, owner of Salty Fox Coffee – Contributed photo

Salty Fox Coffee is the passion project of owner/manager Andrea Hampton. Andrea moved to San Juan Island in 2007, shortly after graduating from WSU. As the daughter of a fisherman, she has always felt a strong connection with the ocean and its salty fresh air.

Andrea worked as a property and casualty agent at Safe Harbor Insurance (previously Swanberg-Judkins) from 2007-2015 with a few extended breaks when she had daughter, Kate (7), and son, Mac (6). Newly single, she felt a strong pull to engage positively with the local community on a daily basis. This prompted the move into the coffee/hospitality industry. Continue Reading

San Juan Island National Historical Park has announced that ten new test plots at American Camp will be treated with herbicide, weather permitting, in support of Island Marble Butterfly habitat restoration sometime between October 31 and November 3, 2017. This is the third year of a five year study that is attempting to increase the amount of suitable habitat present at American Camp for the Island Marble Butterfly, a candidate for the Endangered Species List.  Glyphosate will be applied to ten new plots and ten existing plots below the Redoubt.  

Following the successful prescribed burn of six plots on Young Hill on October 5, 2017 the Exotic Plant Management Team from North Cascades National park will be treating twelve 10×10 meter sub-plots with Indaziflam and Rimsulfuron.  These experimental burns, in conjunction with the herbicide treatment are being tested to determine their effectiveness in removing non-native grasses that have over-taken the Gary Oak Woodland. Continue Reading

Rod Turnbull, Athletic Director at the high school shares this playoff update…

Fall Season is again winding down, and it is time for those teams that qualified to make their post-season runs. This year we have the potential for all four of our Fall teams to advance to post season. Below is an outline of what’s next for our teams. A reminder, in general, all post season brackets and parings can be found by navigating through our league website at www.nw1a2bathletics.com  

We also would like you to know that 3 Fall teams were once again recognized for academic achievement by the WIAA. Those receiving recognition this Fall were, Volleyball, Girls Soccer and Boys Soccer. These student athletes work very hard and overcome some unique obstacles due to travel based on our geographic location, yet they continue to earn high academic honors. Thank you for your support of these students: Continue Reading

Beach restoration after rock removal – Contributed photo

Spawning habitat for the surf smelt, a small fish important in marine food webs, just got a whole lot better at a local beach thanks to the hard, and often muddy, work of public service organizations, contractors, landowners, community members and school kids.  Over the past few weeks 600 linear feet of shoreline has been improved along Shaw Island’s Blind Bay, a priority forage fish spawning region in the county.

The surf smelt that spawn year round on the beaches of Blind Bay require small gravel and sand to successfully incubate their tiny eggs. Friends of the San Juans led efforts to remove large angular rock that over the decades had fallen from armoring structures and covered large portions of the natural beach.  

Work occurred at two locations along the bay, with different restoration methods. At one site, which hosted large volumes of rock slated for removal, Friends of the San Juans contracted with Shaner Excavating and Tree Service of Orcas Island to mobilize large equipment and mechanically remove about 120 cubic yards of large rock. A combination of sand and small gravel nourishment material, also known as ‘fish mix,’ was then brought in to restore suitable spawning substrate to the impacted beach. 

At a second smaller site, with a much thinner layer of angular rock, Friends worked with a Washington Conservation Corps crew, Shaw School students, and community volunteers to enhance the spawning site. Over 6 cubic yards of rock were removed from the beach surface, unburying the naturally smaller grained beach below. The cleared rock was placed into large bags and will be picked up for upland disposal by Hardy Schmidt Excavation of Shaw Island. Continue Reading

Next Saturday, SJIMA Artists Jean Behnke & Michael Peterson will talk about their works, their methods and the materials they when creating their art.

In addition to their sculptures and ​printwork, the exhibit includes photographs by internationally known photographer  Peter deLory, and forest paintings and drawings by ​port of Olympia artist​ Kathy Gore Fuss.

Admission includes access to, and takes place in, the current exhibit: From Rocky Outcroppings, inside the San Juan Island Museum of Art.

Refreshments will be served in the atrium after the talk.

• Date: Sat Nov 4
• Time: 1:30 – 3:30 pm
• Location:SJIMA/San Juan Island Museum of Art
  540 Spring Street, Friday Harbor WA
• Cost: Free for Museum members & those under 18
  Admission charge for non-members: $10 /pay-what-you-can

Continue Reading

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

What’s that you say? You’re looking for a tall, leggy brunette for long walks on the beach and quiet nights by the fire? Well, look no further!

I am Selena and I believe I may be just what you’ve been waiting for. I love long walks almost as much as I like cuddling on the sofa! I am a perfect lady with lovely manners and I have been told I’m quite “easy on the eye”.

In the interest of full disclosure, you should know I like to drink out of the toilet. I sincerely hope that’s not a deal-breaker.

We should meet and get to know each other. Call me. I’m currently living at the animal shelter until a better housing situation becomes available.

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

Diners enjoy a feast at last year’s Community Thanksgiving Dinner – Contributed photo

Thanksgiving is always a great time to gather and celebrate all the wonderful things we have to be grateful for. YOU are invited to be a part of the Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Mullis Center on Thanksgiving Day. Please consider being a part of this  special community event.  

You can participate by bringing a pie, (either homemade or store bought) for the dessert table.  

Or you can volunteer to roast a turkey.  We provide the turkey, you cook it Thanksgiving day and bring it to the Mullis Center. 

Or you can volunteer to to help at the dinner.  

Or you can just plan to dine at the Mullis Center between 12 Noon and 5 PM  and enjoy a great meal and fun time with your friends and neighbors.  

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d48a9a929a6fb6-community1

Thanks, 
Minnie Knych

To the personnel of Life Care Center of San Juan Island,

My dad was a resident at the Life Care Center for approximately 2 years. I just want to thank everyone there for taking care of him while he was there. I wanted to send a “thank you” before it all dissolved, but time ran out so here I am saying it after the fact.

Thank you to those cheerful people who monitored the front door and the front desk. You answered the phones and directed our calls, attempted to answer our questions and open the door for us when we were going out while doing a million other things we have no clue about.

Thank you to the housekeepers, maintenance people who kept the residents’ rooms clean and functional.

Thank you nurses and caregivers for all your hard work and special care you gave each one of the residents.

Thank you social workers, physical therapists, and occupational therapists that helped with mobility and the well being of the residents.

Thank you cooks and kitchen staff who managed to give a guy who “doesn’t eat pork”, bacon because he does eat bacon and sausage (just not pork).

If I missed anyone, I thank you too for all your care. The work you did for these people was not easy but appreciated beyond words and my father certainly was a challenge in his own way.

It takes very special people to care for individuals in an environment like that. You all have that gift and I hope you are able to find other opportunities to share it.

With the closing of the center, I am sorry for your loss, but I hope where one door closes another opens.  

Thank You,
Shannon Dean

Brendan Cowan shares this news from last week’s ShakeOut drill…

The middle school students from the Shaw Island School won a statewide earthquake preparedness video contest. So inspiring the way their entire school community has embraced emergency preparedness!

Here’s the link to their video:

Indeed, more than 1,300 islanders participated in last week’s ShakeOut earthquake exercise- the most ever. That includes school districts, government departments, businesses, non-profits, and families and individuals. Thanks to everyone who signed up and spent a few minutes thinking about getting ready for the inevitable quake.

For more info on how to get ready for quakes and other emergencies, go to www.sanjuandem.net/prepare.

Brendan Cowan
Director, San Juan County Department of Emergency Management

Jim Lett with some of the grandkids in his “crowd.” – Contributed photo

OPALCO Board Member Jim Lett to Retire; Candidates Sought for Board Appointment

OPALCO Board Member Jim Lett has announced his retirement in order to spend more time with his “crowd of grandchildren.” Lett will retire on January 31, 2018 and the member Election & Governance Committee is seeking applications from candidates from District 3 (Lopez, Decatur, Center and Charles islands) interested in filling the vacancy. Applications are due November 20, 2017.

“We will miss Jim’s thoughtful and steadfast decision making,” said Foster Hildreth, General Manager. “Jim’s focus on safety and fiscal responsibility will continue to serve our co-op membership well for years to come.”

Lett joined the Board in 2009 and served as Board President in 2015-2016. He earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification from the National Rural Electric Association and is an advocate for the cooperative difference. “Anyone interested in running for the OPALCO Board must be willing to take the time to understand and appreciate how a co-op works,” said Lett. “You need to balance running a safe and sound business with the co-op principles that guide us in the care of our membership and protection of our sensitive environment.” Continue Reading

EDC to offer free Construction Basics training

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) will offer free training in construction basics this winter, funded by the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Orcas Kiwanis, Islanders Bank, the San Juan County Builders’ Association, Orcas Excavators and Island Excavating.

The course will be taught at Orcas Island High School by Vocational and Woodworking Instructor Brett McFarland. The training is geared for high school students and young adults, and will include core construction skills, tool usage, safety and more. Instruction is open and free to all participants from San Juan County.

The course will run after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from November 28, 2017, through February 1st, 3:30-5:30p. There is no cost for training; pre-registration and a $10 filing fee is required. The deadline to apply is November 17th, 2017. To apply, please visit the EDC’s website at www.sanjuansedc.org/trades.

The EDC thanks our partners in the trades education initiative: the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Orcas Kiwanis, San Juan County Builders Association, San Juan County, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, Island Excavating and Orcas Excavators.