Good news from Ken Balcomb at the Center for Whale Research…

J19, K27, K44 – Photo by Melisa Pinnow, Center for Whale Research

They’re back! For the first time in more than two months, a large assemblage of Southern Resident killer whale pods has returned to the interior waters of the Salish Sea. This population has dramatically decreased in number in recent years, and this summer was unprecedented by their almost complete absence in the core area of their summer habitat around the San Juan Islands and southern Vancouver Island where they occurred almost daily in previous years.

Their frequent occurrence in this habitat for the past half century earned them the name “resident”, given to them by Dr. Mike Bigg early in his pioneering study of ‘killer whales’ in the 1970s. These are extremely vivacious and charismatic animals, as indigenous to the Pacific Northwest as its original human inhabitants.

For several weeks, there have been reports of killer whales coming in off Jordan River in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. But, each time it has turned out that the whales found were Bigg’s Transient killer whales. On September 4, Mark Malleson (CWR staff) confirmed that incoming whales he encountered west of Sheringham lighthouse were RESIDENT killer whales!

The first whale identified was J19, who seems to have taken over as leader after the passing of longtime matriarch J2 in the winter of 2015/16. J pod was in several matriline groups closest to the shoreline of Vancouver Island; the Ks were in loose matriline groups a little farther offshore and a little behind the Js. The Ls that were present were very spread out in matriline groups much farther behind and farther offshore.

K25 breach – Photo by Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research

There was some foraging activity going on with all groups conducting occasional sprints into churning tidal waters (the tidal currents in the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca had gone from big ebb to big flood with a very brief slack at 1205). The salmon tend to move into the Salish Sea with the flood tides, and hang back in nearshore eddies and bays in ebb tides, so the whale foraging and travelling east suggested that there were at last sufficient numbers of salmon to bring them all of the way in. It was interesting to see that J and K pod whales came easterly through Race Passage, while L pod whales came easterly to the south of Race Rocks as far as mid-strait. Continue Reading

Cheese Therapy! – Contributed Photo

Our local cheese aficionado’s at San Juan Cheese invite you to try out, “Cheese Therapy on the Patio!” happening through September on Thursdays, Friday’s and Saturdays from 3pm – 6pm. Cheese boards, cheesecake, wine and beer will served on the patio tucked away behind the shop on Nichols Street. And yes, you can still, “Love your Lunch” Tuesday – Saturday 11:00am to 3:00pm.

Thanks to Mo Sloane for this first in a series of articles introducing featured speakers who will be presenting at the Master Gardeners Annual Gardening Workshop on October 7th. This first article introduces the workshop’s keynote speaker, Dr. Linda Gilkeson…

Peace Love Rose – Contributed Photo

Is ‘weird weather’ challenging you and your gardening skills? You’re not alone! Between the increasingly variable weather and new pests and diseases, it seems there is more we need to know every year. PNW gardeners need to be prepared to handle longer, drier summers and water shortages, warmer average temperatures and more extreme weather. But this isn’t difficult – we can add to our existing skill sets to become more resilient gardeners.

Join the Master Gardeners of San Juan County in welcoming Dr. Linda Gilkeson as the keynote speaker at our Annual Gardening Workshop. Dr. Gilkeson’s talk, “Resilient Gardens in a Changing Climate,” will discuss how plants respond to environmental stress and how we can adapt our gardening methods to meet the challenges (and opportunities!) of a changing climate. The good news is that there is quite a lot we can do to be successful.

In addition to her keynote address, Dr. Gilkeson will speak in two afternoon sessions, “Planting for Pollinators” and “Grow the Most Food in the Smallest Space.” Dr. Gilkeson is the author of “Backyard Bounty: The Complete Guide to Year-Round Organic Gardening in the Pacific Northwest,” the beloved and best-selling guide to vegetable garden success. Follow her monthly newsletter with gardening tips and advice on insect management on her web site, lindagilkeson.ca.

The Annual Gardening Workshop is a day-long event, with noted authorities speaking on a wide variety of topics of interest to PNW coastal gardeners. Multiple choices allow you to plan your day to attend sessions of interest to you. This year topics include soil fertility, restoring island wildflowers, dealing with wireworms, growing berries and fruit trees, gardening with children, and camellias in our climate. Continue Reading

San Juan Singers – Contributed Photo

Christmas already? Yes, if you are planning to put on a Holiday concert it is indeed time to start rehearsing and San Juan Singers is ready to welcome new recruits! First rehearsal will be held in the Community Room at Skagit Valley College on Wednesday, September 13, 6:30 – 9:00 pm.

It is recommended that you come a little early to pick up music. Director, Angel Michaels, “This chorus is suitable for experienced singers. No audition is required, but there will be a voice-check by the director to make sure singers are appropriately placed in the chorus and sufficiently skilled to enjoy learning and performing the concert repertoire.”

Proposed for the season: “Seven Joys of Christmas” by Kirke Mechem, “a bright up-beat work that celebrates the joy and glory of the Christmas season.” In addition, the chorus will perform carols and songs of the season.

Smokey Skies – Photo Peggy Sue McRae

It’s still pretty smokey…

…AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PDT THURSDAY…

The Air Quality ALERT issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology remains in effect until 12 PM PDT Thursday.

Smoke from wildfires across the region will continue to linger over Western Washington through at least Thursday morning. Expect the air quality to remain unhealthy for sensitive groups, with locations
between 1000 and 1500 feet likely to experience the worst air quality conditions.

Conditions may improve somewhat late tonight especially along the coast.

Children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory illnesses are most at risk of serious health effects. These groups should limit or avoid spending time outdoors.

For more air quality information, please visit the following web sites:

Washington state department of ecology: www.Ecy.WA.Gov
Puget Sound clean air agency: pscleanair.Org
northwest clean air agency: nwcleanairwa.Gov

For information on the smoke affecting Washington state, visit the Washington smoke blog at http://wasmoke.Blogspot.Com.

It’s time for the September edition of the SJ Historical Society’s History Column…

Click to enlarge

With school back in session, we’re thinking of teachers and students from times past, as well. Mark Rosler’s sweet note, pictured here, was found written inside a textbook now preserved in the San Juan Historical Society & Museum’s archives. Mark wrote this to his teacher Miss Ada Mahon in 1899, when he had just turned 18 and his world as an adult was before him.

Mark, born and raised on the island, was a son of Christopher Rosler and Anna Pike. He continued his education on the mainland, becoming a dentist. But what about his teacher? Ada Jane Mahon, born in New Brunswick, Canada, was 24 years old at the time Mark wrote the note to her and apparently was quite a popular teacher at Schoolhouse #1. The island’s newspaper, the San Juan Islander, reported the following in its August 23, 1900 issue, upon Miss Mahon’s move to Seattle to continue her career in education:

“The young people of Argyle gave a farewell dance to Miss Ada Mahon, Tuesday night. Everybody had a pleasant time tripping the light fantastic until an early hour Wednesday morning”.

We don’t have a photograph of Ada, but a large portrait of Mark and other members of the Rosler family grace the parlor of the King Farmhouse. To see them, visit our website for open hours and admission rates.

Tufted Puffins, Smith Island – Photo Katie Jones

Thanks to photographer and naturalist Katie Jones, Spyhopper Travels Photography, for this photograph of Tufted Puffins out at Smith Island.

Whales & Shipping – Photo Shannon Rankin, NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC

The Whale Museum’s lecture series continues this Thursday, September 7 at 6:30 pm with a lecture by Krista Trounce of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Dr. Jason Wood from Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Consulting North America (based here in Friday Harbor). They will be presenting on the ship slow down trial that is currently taking place in Haro Strait.

The study is a world first and extremely exciting as it investigates whether slowing ships down will reduce ship noise in the ocean, and is happening right in our back yard! The crucial data for this study are being collected from the live hydrophone system that we, in collaboration with the Whale Museum have deployed from Lime Kiln Point State Park. Link here to Lime Kiln Live.

Come learn how the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) program is working to reduce the impact of vessel traffic on whales in the Salish Sea. 

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call (360) 378-4710 ext.30. The Whale Museum is located in Friday Harbor at 62 First Street N.

False Bay, No Mountains – Photo Peggy Sue McRae

The mountains are definitely not out today. My photo of False Bay without the Olympics may look like a sepia toned antique but that is the real color and the photo was taken this morning. Due to regional wildfires we are once again experiencing smokey air. Here is the Air Quality Alert from the National Weather Service issued this morning, Sept 5, at 9:53 am…

An air quality alert has been issued by the National Weather Service. It is in effect through 5 PM PDT Wednesday afternoon.

Smoke from wildfires in eastern Washington and Montana will continue to drift westward into western Washington today into Wednesday morning. The central Puget Sound region and the mountains will be the most impacted by the smoke. Expect the air quality to become unhealthy for sensitive groups today into Wednesday morning with locations between 1000 to 1500 feet likely to experience the lowest air quality conditions.

Conditions are expected to begin improving tonight along the coast, and the interior on Wednesday, as marine air pushes inland and southerly flow aloft pushes the smoke out of the area.

Children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory illnesses are most at risk of serious health effects. These groups should limit or avoid time outdoors.

For more information on burn bans and the air quality in your area, please visit the following web sites.

Smokey Sun – Photo
Lynn Tarabochia

Washington state department of ecology: www.Ecy.WA.Gov
Puget Sound clean air agency: pscleanair.Org
northwest clean air agency: nwcleanairwa.Gov

For information on the smoke affecting Washington state, visit the Washington smoke blog at http://wasmoke.Blogspot.Com.

From The San Juan Island School District…

The San Juan Island School District and the San Juan Education Association reached a tentative agreement at 6:14 pm Monday, September 4, 2017.

The teachers’ association ratified the proposed agreement this evening and the school board is expected to approve this tentative agreement at a special board meeting on Tuesday, September 5, at 5:00 pm at the high school library. This will be an open public meeting. Details about the settlement will be made available to the public and posted on the district website once the board votes for final approval.

Schools will be open on Tuesday September 5, and will follow their regular full day schedules.

A new school calendar will be posted on our website with a makeup day added to the school year. This revised calendar is expected to be approved by the board at the Special Board Meeting on Tuesday.  

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the association today. It feels good to have our teachers and students heading back to the classrooms, and it is a relief to be able to look at the year ahead and focus on student achievement,” said Superintendent Danna Diaz.

On Tuesday September 5, SJCT Summer Film Series presents, Land of Mine. This German/Danish film was a nominee for Best Foreign Film at the 2017 Academy Awards. The film is based on a true account of German prisoners of war sent to clear land mines in Denmark after World War II.

Admission is either by punch card or cash at the door. Single admissions are $8 the night of the show. In addition to the normal snacks, popcorn will be available for $2 with free refills.

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

Look, why is it so hard for you to understand – sometimes I want to go out. Sometimes I want to be let back in. Then out again. Then back in.

Sometimes I may just want to be half-in and half-out while someone holds the door open for me while I try to decide. It’s not really that complicated.

If you’re looking for a job and would like to be my personal door opener, we should talk. The job doesn’t pay well, but it comes with great benefits! Stop by the animal shelter for an interview soon. I’m Jersey and I’d love to be your new boss.

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

Raven Skyriver – Contributed Photo

Don’t miss your last opportunity to see this exhibit!…

Contemporary glass artist, Raven Skyriver will wrap up the end of the First Nation exhibition at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art on Monday, September 4.

His gallery talk at 4:00 pm on Labor Day will be the grand finale of this exceptional show. In celebration of the exhibition and talk, the entry fee will be suspended from 3:30 until 6 pm that day.

Raven’s glass creation are included in “EMERGENCE, Legendary & Emerging First Nation Artists” at SJIMA. Raven will follow his gallery talk with a presentation of his work in the museum’s upstairs workshop.

Talking about the inspiration for his work Raven, of the Tlingit Tribe, states “Some of my most memorable moments in life are those of having my first salmon on the line, or a humpback feeding off the bow of my kayak. These unforgettable experiences dictate the work I make today.”

Glass Art by Raven Skyriver

San Juan Community Theare’s Family Theatre program has musical fun with world’s most famous bard in its upcoming fall production.

Auditions for Steve Titford’s Shakespeare Rocks! are being held on Monday and Tuesday, September 11 and 12 at 3:00 p.m. in the Whittier Theatre. Island kids in grades K-6 and their parents are invited to attend (either day).

The musical comedy is full of modern songs and a plot that is complete with puns and tougue and cheek humor—an up-to-date look at the life and times of William Shakespeare and how he came “to be.”

In addition to the two auditions dates, a pre-audition workshop will be held at SJCT on September 5 at 3 p.m. for children who have never auditioned before or have never been cast in a play.

Rehearsals will be held after school and on Sundays. The play will be presented on the Whittier stage November 16-19.          

Contact Penelope Haskew at [email protected] for more information.

Community Foundation at the Fair – Contributed Photo

The Community Foundation was once again gratified by the amazing generosity of islanders last week at the 2017 San Juan County Fair when over $31,000 was donated to nine different projects featured in the matching program. This amount was raised in just the four days of the Fair!

The Foundation, in turn, will match those donations 50 cents on every dollar raised until each project goal is met, thereby allowing over $46,000 to be granted to the following projects:

• Animal Protection Society’s New Shelter Medical Supplies
• SJICF Women’s Fund Membership Drive
• Family Resource Center’s Our Island Neighbors
• Friday Harbor Athletic Association’s Let’s Finish the Ballfields
• Hospice of San Juan’s Help Sustain Hospice
• PADs for Parkinson’s Expanding PADs Training
• Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center’s Raptor Habitat & Food Storage
• Island Stage Left’s Housing for the Stars
• SJICF’s Voc-Tech Education Scholarships

At the conclusion of the 2017 San Juan County Fair, eleven-year-old, Moose Kinsey from Orcas Island, reached into the glass jar that held names of all 120 contributors at the Community Foundation’s booth – and drew out the name of Travis Ayers. That gave Travis the opportunity to select the nonprofit beneficiary of a bonus $1,000 from the Foundation. He chose the Friday Harbor Athletic Association’s Let’s Finish the Ballfields Project to be the lucky recipient.

The Community Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to all who made this annual event so enjoyable – and so successful. Thank you!

The San Juan Island Community Foundation serves as a non-profit philanthropic umbrella organization helping donors, non-profits and public organizations to achieve their goals through direct grants, organizational assistance and philanthropic resource management. For further information about the Community Foundation, call 378-1001, write to PO Box 1352, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 or, visit the office located at 640 Mullis St., Suite 104, Friday Harbor, WA.