The eclipse party this morning at South Beach that was organized by the National Park Service was quite a big hit. Estimates are that 400 – 500 people attended.

Eclipse glasses, telescopes and home-made viewing boxes were available for all to safely view this rare celestial event. And the weather couldn’t have been better. (so glad it wasn’t an overcast day!). Check out the photos below and see who you recognize wearing the funny glasses.

[Show slideshow]

“Spirit Taking Form” SJIMA Artists Registry Exhibit 2016 – Contributed photo

“Cracking the Surface” 6th Annual SJIMA Artists Registry Exhibit, Opening November 18th 2017, at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art

Become a Member of SJIMA Artists Registry and be included in the Museums’ 2017 Artists Registry Winter Exhibit.

The theme for this years’ exhibit is “Cracking the Surface” and features the artwork of islands artists who are members of the museum’s Artists’ Registry program. The SJIMA Artists Registry is dedicated to San Juan County visual artists in all media. The exhibit will feature paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and encaustic as well as pastel, photography, mixed media, pottery, sculpture, glass, textiles, and jewelry. The SJIMA Artists Registry exhibition gives islanders and island friends a chance to see the amazing diversity of local artwork available, along with the opportunity to tour the dramatic SJIMA building.

If you are not yet a member of the SJIMA Artists Registry but would like to participate in this exhibition opportunity, you are invited to apply by submitting an application, available online at www.sjimaartistsregistry.com. Deadline for new member applications must be postmarked or emailed by October 1, 2017 to participate in “Cracking the Surface”. All San Juan County visual artists are eligible to be part of the SJIMA Artists’ Registry, which can be viewed at www.sjima.org by clicking the “Artists Registry” tab in the upper right corner. Applications and more information is available at www.sjimaartistsregistry.com or by contacting Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso at 378-6725 or email: [email protected]

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

Ladies and Gentlemen, look no further. What you see here is pure kitten purr-fection, if I do say so myself.

I am Peppermint Pat, and for a little guy, I’m kind of a BIG deal. I’m one and half pounds of cuddly, bouncy, purring, bird-on-a-string-chasing LOVE!

And get this – I am available for adoption! Yes sirree, today could be your lucky day. You’d better hurry over to the animal shelter to meet me soon! If you think I’m cute, wait till you meet my brothers!

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

Portland’s Jonah Weston brings his national tour of Shel Silverstein’s The Devil and Billy Markham to San Juan Community Theatre on Friday and Saturday, August 25-26 at 7:30 p.m.

Weston’s visit, which also includes a two-day workshop in SJCT’s Gubelman Theatre on August 26 and 27, is part of SJCT’s Off the Rock series, which brings off-island contemporary performances and educators to the island.

Weston has been touring Silverstein’s one-act play for more than five years. It tells the story of an unforgettable character who never met a bet he didn’t take, including that of his own soul. The Oregonian said that “Weston’s pleasure in reciting Silverstein’s humorously witty and sometimes playfully raunchy poetry is apparent.” The Devil and Billy Markham first appeared as a six-part epic poem in the January 1979 issue of Playboy and subsequently as the one act play. (Note: mature themes).

Weston has been acting since age 12 and is the founding Artistic Director of Portland’s Action Talks Productions and THEATRE NOW. Weston’s two-day workshop, Foundations of Acting and Character Development, is open to beginning and intermediate actors, ages 16 and up. The class will focus on text analysis and character development through text work. Registration for the workshop is $60 via www.sjctheatre.org or the box office (360-378-3210).

The Business Partner for The Devil and Billy Markham is Friday Harbor Suites. Play tickets are $16 for adults, $8 for student reserved, with $5 student RUSH one hour before the show if there are still seats available. The Box Office is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or tickets may be purchased on-line at www.sjctheatre.org.

On behalf of the student participants, faculty and staff of the Friday Harbor Elementary School Summer Academy 2017, we wish to thank the Community Foundation of San Juan Island and the Women’s Fund for their grant support of our program. The three-week session enabled our incoming 2017-2018 (first through fourth grade) children to be prepared for their school year.

A team of six educators worked with the students utilizing and teaching appropriate math skill sequences as the second session of the day emphasized reading, writing and word studies using theater games, singing and public speaking. The children attended morning classes (Monday-Thursday) from July 31st through August 17th. Their day was divided between the math and English disciplines with a snack and recess break.

As we all share in the responsibility of providing our island children with a positive educational experience, it is the important support of organizations such as the Community Foundation of San Juan Island and the Women’s Fund that enable us to enhance our community and the academic goals of our young residents.

Thank you. We are so grateful for this support!

Diane Ball, Principal
Jane Maxwell Campbell, Summer School Teacher
Friday Harbor Elementary School

Here are the results from Island Rec’s 2017 8.8K Loop Run, broken down by top 3 finishers overall and by age group for both men and women.

There were 110 runners/walkers this year.

Congratulations everyone! Click here for results (pdf)

Directors Carol Hooper and Julie Laidlaw are holding auditions for San Juan Community Theatre’s On Book! Readers Theatre presentations THIS Sunday, August 20 at 2:00 pm at the PARC (70 Saltspring Drive).

Carol is casting for Eric Coble’s For Better in September and Julie is looking for folks for The Passion of Dracula by Bob Hall and David Richmond set for October. The readers theatre series is a great way to get started in acting or is good for experienced actors who don’t have time for a full production. More details are available at www.sjctheatre.org.

Left to Right: Amy Plant with daughter Lyra, Steph Coffey and Cady Davies (front right) – Contributed photo

There are new faces at Brickworks in Friday Harbor! The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild is delighted to introduce their new (and first) Executive Director, Steph Coffey, and new Administrative Manager, Cady Davies. Former General Manager Amy Plant has happily embarked on motherhood, remaining with the Ag Guild as part-time coordinator of the Island Grown in the San Juans program.

Coffey comes to the San Juans all the way from Two Harbors in northern Minnesota. She brings to the Ag Guild over 17 years of experience in advertising and 15 years in nonprofit management. She was also a part-time farmer, growing vegetables for Two Harbors restaurants and selling at the local farmers market. “It’s very exciting to be a part of the sustainable food movement and raise our family in such a beautiful place,” said Coffey about moving to the islands.

In her new position, Coffey will focus on promoting Ag Guild projects and the Brickworks facility. Brickworks rentals help fund other Ag Guild projects, such as Island Grown and the San Juan County Food Hub. Coffey feels “the Ag Guild is working on some pretty exciting county-wide projects.”

Long-time islander Davies raised her two daughters on San Juan island. An early supporter of Spring Street International School, Davies managed the school office and traveled internationally with her daughters in tow. She subsequently spent ten years as an EMT and was the Executive Assistant at San Juan Island EMS for eleven years. Davies loves gardening, sailing, and playing with her two grandsons. “I’m excited to be part of another growing adventure here at the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild and to help support our community of farmers.”

Plant moved to the islands from London, UK six years ago to join her husband in an organic no-till farming and research operation. Previously, she enjoyed over 15 years working internationally as a “socially engaged artist,” creating projects that combined art, activism, and community building. Plant joined the Ag Guild in 2015. “Since the birth of my baby last year,” she says, “it’s a pleasure to be able to work part time, focusing on the Island Grown program and supporting the vital mission of the Ag Guild with such a fabulous, growing team!”

The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild’s mission is to foster a vibrant, resilient, and sustainable local food system in San Juan County, Washington. For more information please call 360-378-0095, email [email protected], or go to www.sjiagguild.com. Continue Reading

You’re invited!

Join the National Park Service at South Beach on Monday, August 21st, 8:30 am to noon, for a Solar Eclipse Viewing Party!

Please note, we are expecting a high number of visitors and will be closing the parking area at South Beach to minimize pedestrian/vehicle conflicts – individuals with limited mobility will still be allowed to park at South Beach.

There will be an event tent on the corner of Pickett’s Lane and Redoubt Road where park staff will give you event information and direct you to park on Redoubt Road.

More Information is available at the links below:

Safety Information for viewing the eclipse (pdf)

South Beach Site Map (pdf)

You’ve probably heard about the license plate contest for San Juan County. If not, you can read more about it here, and note that voting for your favorite is still open. You can vote at the booth inside the main building at the fair.

And note also, that if you’re interested in supporting the Madrona Institute and the Terrestrial Managers Group by purchasing one of these plates for your vehicle(s), you should also fill out the “Special License Plate Series Signature Sheet” at the booth as well. They have about 1,000 signatures now and they need 3,500 by mid October or this whole license plate series won’t even happen.

So stop by the booth, check out all the cool designs by local artists, vote for your favorite and ask them for more info on the campaign.

The Washington State Department of Health and San Juan County Health and Community Services are urging parents and guardians to make sure their kids’ immunizations are up to date before heading back to school this fall.

Last school year (2016-2017), 85 percent of kindergartners in Washington State were completely immunized. This school year’s goal is 95 percent. View a list of the elementary schools that achieved 95 percent last year, as well as a list of San Juan County’s school district rates here.

Students could be excluded from school if there’s an outbreak of a disease they are not immunized against. Vaccines are critical protection for children; they also help keep other kids around them safe from many diseases.

See all required vaccinations for kindergarten through 12th grade and child care and preschool. Lists of required vaccinations are available in seven different languages, including English and Spanish.

Parents and guardians can check their child’s immunization status or print their Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) at wa.MyIR.net. Alternatively, they can request a copy of their child’s CIS from their primary care provider, or from San Juan County Health & Community Services by calling (360) 378-4474.

Vaccines are provided at no cost to all kids through age 18. If a health care provider charges a fee to give the shot, parents or guardians may ask to have it waived if they cannot afford it. By law, no child can be turned away from getting a recommended vaccine from their regular health care provider because the family cannot pay.

Get help finding a health care provider by calling the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 or visiting www.parenthelp123.org.

Find more information on the Washington State Department of Health website, on Facebook and on Twitter.

Photo by Jan Bollwinkel-Smith

San Juan Community Theatre’s summer three-week musical theatre camp for experienced young actors comes to a close THIS Thursday through Saturday, August 17-19 with three performances of
Once on This Island Jr. in the Whittier. (Show times are 7:00 pm on Thursday and Friday and NOON on Saturday).

Photo by Jan Bollwinkel-Smith

Director Penelope Haskew and more than 36 actors and behind the scenes crew present this original theatrical adaptation of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical by the legendary writing team, Ahrens and Flaherty.

Through almost non-stop song and dance, creative light and set designs, the Calypso-flavored tale features a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of her island. When the boy is returned to his people, the fantastical gods who rule the island guide the girl on a quest that will test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred and even death.

Thursday is “Pay What You Can” at the door; Friday and Saturyday’s tickest are $8 for adults and $5 for student reserved. Visit www.sjctheatre.org to purchase tickets.

CAST
Kira Clark, Presley Clark, Luke Fincher, Chelsy Gollen, Sidney Herda, Jonny Huntemer, Emerald Hurley, Josephine Lane, Lucy Marinkovich, Ava Martin, Lucy Martin, Milo  Martin, Joshua May, Danielle McKay, Connor Merritt, Ryland Merritt, Anabelle Mountford, Dylan Mughal, Emma Mughal, Catherine Pignatiello, Frankie Pignatiello, Luca Pignatiello, William Plew, Alison Power, Chiara Power, Sophia Ramirez, Haley Rennick, Matthew Rice, Ayla Ridwan, Islay Ross, Anne Marie Ryan, Carly Saxe, Vera Schoultz, Shaw Sandstrom, Zoe Steele, Robin Taylor

CREW
ElseDora Arendt, Sonni Bernt, Blake Budwill, Heather Clark, McKenna Clark, Emily Fitts, Ethan Fitts, Rick Frazer, Penelope Haskew, Mary Hurley, Steve Judson, Sandra May, Callie McKay, Jenni Merritt, Michelle Mazzarella, Jamie Mountford, Libby Scott, Georgia Smith, Melyssa Taylor, Stacy Worcester

Hi San Juan Update,

We are hoping you could share this video, to help get the word out to those interested in supporting our youth’s healthy messages. Hope to see you at the fair!

Thank you!
Debbi Fincher
San Juan Island Prevention Coalition

Art for Fun (a paint and sip party) has two sessions remaining for the summer season. The paintings for these sessions are:
August 22 – “Southern View”
August 29 – “Guiding Light”

Gather some friends and family and join us for a fun night of step by step instructions as you paint your own piece of art. No experience necessary. Sessions are $35 each, are held in the workshop room at San Juan Islands Museum of Art and run from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

Art for Fun will continue with the fall program starting mid-September. For more information and to register, go to www.sjima.org.

Fellow Film Buffs,

Because of a delay in release dates, we are revising our schedule. We will now be showing “Limbo” on August 29th and “The Wedding Plan” on September 19th.

But next week on Tuesday, it’s Neruda:

During 1948 -1949, Pablo Neruda, an ardent Communist, lead the opposition to an incipient right wing dictatorship in Chile. In response, the government issued a warrant for his arrest and transformed Neruda from politician to outlaw. The film portrays his life “on the run” (which is not quite as much of a hardship as you might imagine!).

It shows both sides of Neruda, a sensualist with an inexhaustible appetite for pleasure and a courageous populist. Pablo Larrain, (who also directed “Jackie”) does a fabulous job contrasting Neruda, the poet open to nature and humanity, and Peluconneau, the humorless detective charged with arresting him.

The film is rich in color and settings, filled with poetry and ambiguity. It is definitely one of the best films I saw this year. Lumi and Pedro Verdugo will lead a brief talkback after the film.

Tuesday, August 22nd, 7:30 pm
Run Time is 107 minutes, Rated R, in Spanish and French

Hope to see you at the movies.
Larry Soll