In the SJ Update Mailbag today we have this letter from Rob Simpson…

A few days after our first screening of a new and challenging documentary series called DEEP SPACE, I was informed that “public reaction” was so negative that the formerly enthusiastic plan to screen the entire series over the coming months is immediately cancelled.

Evidently, for some vocal members in our community, looking into DEEP SPACE was just too much to consider.

Way too much.

I forewarned everyone who was thinking of attending that the DEEP SPACE series pulls together only the scattered bits of evidence we possess, in order to help us ask better questions in future.

Better questions get us better answers.

Evidently, DEEP SPACE offers too much to think about in these contentious times.
And so, they have pressured the library to not offer THIS kind of program for thoughtful analysis.

I know we have a lot on our plates to process these days.
​I am certainly feeling it.​

But, has it ​now ​become fashionable to block what ​information ​people​ ​​are exposed to?

Continue Reading

Decision on Sixth Grade Transition Postponed until March Board Meeting

The decision by the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors on whether or not to move the sixth grade from the Friday Harbor Elementary School to Friday Harbor Middle School will be postponed until the regular school board meeting scheduled for March 29, 2017.

At the January 18, 2017 special school board meeting/public hearing, the elementary staff made a presentation to the board in favor of the move, citing supportive research in pedagogy and issues of crowding in the elementary school. The Board is requesting information on the impact to the 2017-2018 school year budget before making a final decision.

The decision process is compounded by the uncertainty of state funding to be received by the district in the next two years. Additional information is needed for district staff to provide a clear financial projection to the board.

Raccoon and little bird tracks – Contributed photo

Shona Aitken,  the Education Coordinator at Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center shares this with you…

Some people hate snow. All it means to them is cold temperatures, slippery roads and difficulty getting to and from work. Other people love it. They enjoy the beauty of falling flakes and the soft covering on trees and bushes, or can’t wait to get out and go sledding.

But there’s another interesting aspect of having snow on the ground – animal tracks. A fresh covering of snow can provide all kinds of information about what animals are moving around and where they’re going. At Wolf Hollow we followed the tracks of a fox as it made the rounds, checking out different spots to see if could find something to eat. We could see where a neighborhood cat had walked through the yard and around the buildings, the route two deer had taken through the woods and where raccoons had visited the compost pile. In some places small rodents had scurried across the path and little birds had ventured out from the bushes to try to find some food. In one spot there was an oval indentation, with marks of spread feathers on either side, then a few medium-sized bird tracks, then nothing. I think a crow had landed, hopped a few steps then taken off again.

You don’t have to be an expert tracker to have fun trying to figure out who went where. It’s amazing what you can learn from taking a short walk in the snow, so try it out. Look for tracks and find out what creatures have moved through your yard.

Because of bad road conditions SJISD schools will be on a 2 hour late start; (10:15AM) start time for all schools. Buses will be Snow routes this morning.

The San Juan County Parks and Fair department is seeking photos and memories regarding the Fairgrounds horse barn. The San Juan County Parks and Fair department received a health and safety grant from the WSDA to deconstruct the existing horse barn and purchase mobile stalls for horse related events at the Fairgrounds.

The Fair Board and staff are currently seeking historic mementos to memorialize the barn; and contribute to the Historic Barns of the San Juan Islands website under the ghost barn section. Please contribute stories and pictures that can help patch together the history of the barn.

It is always a difficult decision to deconstruct objects of heritage/history; however, the time has come to say our goodbyes to the Fairgrounds horse barn. The many years of temporary repairs, fluctuating horse program participation, changing demographics of the islands and minimal usage throughout the year has compiled into health and safety issues for participants, their animals, and general day park users.

The grant funding awarded by the WSDA-Fairs Health and Safety grant program has a matching component; this means additional funding is needed through donations, alternative funding sources and volunteer work. Stay updated on projects and events by subscribing to the San Juan County newsflash.

Shakespeare Love Story in HD February 12

The Met: Live in HD reunites the electrifying team of Vittorio Grigolo and Diana Damrau in a new production of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, screened at San Juan Community Theatre on Sunday, February 12 at 2:00 p.m.

Hailed by The New York Times for singing “with white-hot sensuality and impassioned lyricism,” Damrau and Grigolo star as the tragic lovers in Shakespeare’s classic story. Director Bartlett Sher’s new production also features Virginie Verrez as Stéphano, Elliot Madore as Mercutio, and Mikhail Petrenko as Frère Laurent. Gianandrea Noseda conducts the sumptuous score. Sher’s staging is a La Scala production, initially presented by the Salzburg Festival, where it premiered in 2008. 

Roméo et Juliette first opened to great success in 1867, and the opera premiered at the Met in 1884, which was sung in Italian and starred Italo Campanini as Roméo and Marcella Sembrich as Juliette. Since its Met premiere, the opera has been staged 329 times to date.

The Met: Live in HD tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for SJCT members and $10 for student reserved.   Due to a financial agreement with the Met, no SJCT coupons are accepted for these productions. Tickets are available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org or at the SJCT Box Office: 378-3210.

The San Juan Island Family Resource Center has launched Island Neighbors, a volunteer based community outreach program. This program is designed to offer support and companionship to isolated seniors and persons with disabilities who are living independently but need extra help to sustain a healthier quality of life.

Involvement with Island Neighbors can initiate meaningful relationships, help prevent loss of independence, and create new connections to the community. Island Neighbors is currently looking for volunteers and has many different levels of volunteer opportunities available.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact the San Juan Island Family Resource Center, Phone: 360-378-5246 Email: [email protected]              

~ Companionship ~ Transportation ~ Errands~

WSU Extension Forestry offers class for Woodland Owners

Woodland owners can build skills for caring for their trees by taking Washington State University Extension Forestry’s Forest Stewardship Coached Planning course.

This course teaches owners of wooded property how to assess their trees, avoid insect and disease problems, enhance wildlife habitat, improve wood quality, reduce fire risk, and take practical steps to keep their woods on track to provide enjoyment or even income for years to come. During the course participants will develop a personalized Forest Stewardship Plan, which qualifying landowners can use to lower their property taxes or gain access to cost-share programs. Whether it’s a few wooded acres or a larger forest tract, landowners with all sizes of property and with all types of goals will benefit from this course.

The course will be held Saturdays from 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM from March 11th through April 8th, 2017, including a field trip on April 1st. The course will be held at Skagit Valley College, 221 Weber Way, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

The course fee is $185 if registered before March 1st ($215 on or after) and pre-registration is required. Class sessions, a field trip, a large notebook of reference publications and how-to guides, a native trees book, and an on-site consultation at your property from a state stewardship forester are all included. To register or learn more, visit http://forestry.wsu.edu/nps/events/cpsanjuan/ or contact Ian Fawley, WSU Extension Forestry at (425) 357-6023 or [email protected].

Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication or program information or reasonable accommodation should contact WSU Extension Forestry at least two weeks before the event.

San Juan Community Theatre is looking for some help in the office…

Office and Event Assistant

Position Overview: Provides variety of support services for the Theatre’s administrative offices, including the box office.

Duties:

• Become proficient in use of box office software, answering questions from box office volunteers and troubleshooting problems
• Assists with activities supporting performances and other Theatre events, including such things as preparing and posting lobby signage, photocopying scripts, laundering table cloths, managing lobby decorations, and arranging lodging for guest artists
• Oversees office supplies, ordering new and replacement items as needed
• Handle other duties as needed

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to multi-task
• Reliable, consistent, patient and flexible
• Effective working as member of team
• Proficient in Word, Excel and Outlook
• Willingness to learn new software
• Good problem-solving skills
• Self-starter
• Well-organized
• An understanding of the workings of live theater would be very helpful

Hours: 20 per week

• Tuesday through Friday 12:30pm-4:30pm
• Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm

Please send resumes to Bobby Ryan at EAD [@] sjctheatre.org by February 17.

Another new business in town and another ribbon cutting ceremony. The Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Friday Harbor are happy to welcome Friday Harbor Chocolates to town on Spring Street where the barber used to be, next door to Pebble.

L to R: Mayor Carrie Lacher, Joy Sevier, Mark Zipkin, Aylene Geringer, Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso, Chamber Executive Director Becki Day, Jenni Reynolds and Town Councilman Steve Hushebeck – Tim Dustrude photo

Owners Mark Zipkin and Aylene Geringer (who you may remember as former owners of Trumpeter Inn) have opened their new chocolate and port wine store just in time for Valentine’s Day! Tuesday, February 7th was their first day open and the ribbon cutting happened on Wednesday the 8th.

Specializing only in regional, small production chocolatiers, they have a very nice variety of local, national and international award winning treats to tempt your palate. Their hours are not yet set in stone, but for this week they will be open every day up until Valentine’s Day. After that, until store hours are set, Aylene assures that they can open by appointment if necessary for any chocolate emergencies that may come up. 

They also are offering products from Susan Matthew’s new “Rainshadow Sweet & Savory” pecan business, and would like to feature more local and regional fare as well.

See more photos below.

Continue Reading

In the SJ Update mailbag this afternoon we find this letter from Amy Wynn…

For a mighty long time Susan Williamson has been the go-to person for teaching children how to swim. She’s coached youth through their sailing float tests, gently nudged reluctant youngsters into loving the water, encouraged our swim team kids, and reached out to bring swimming to many youth through the mentorship program, enrichment classes and special lessons.

Susan Williamson – Contributed photo

Susan recently came across Miracle Swimming, an innovative method for teaching people who are afraid of the water. Miracle Swimming is unique in that it teaches to the whole person–body, mind and spirit– and uses their trade marked Five Circles method of conquering fear. It is rare that Miracle Swimming offers instructor training in the northwest, but this March they have a class in Seattle.

Let’s help Susan Williamson take this training. Anyone who knows Susan, knows she will come back from this training excited to share all she has learned with others and it can only serve to make our island friends and families safer around the water.

Susan’s application for the training has been accepted, she has paid a deposit for the course and an in-kind donation of lodging during the training has been secured. Now we just need to come up with $1500.00 for the rest of the tuition costs.

I am sure that if every parent whose child swims a little better for having known Susan gave a little bit we can make this happen for Susan… and for us. Yes, for us, because to have someone in our community with the level of training that Miracle Swimming provides will move us towards our goal of having all islanders safe in deep water.

What a gift it will be to have someone specifically trained to help parents who worry that they couldn’t swim to save their child’s life. What a gift it will be to help a senior whose doctor has recommended water exercise, but has hesitated to go to the water walking class due to fear of the water. What a gift to have someone with the skills to teach a teenager who never got around to learning how to swim but just doesn’t know where to begin.

Please consider making a contribution by dropping off a check made out to “Miracle Swimming” with a memo note “Susan Williamson Tuition” at San Juan Fitness or making an on-line donation at www.miracleswimming.org. On-line donations should be followed up with an e-mail to Miracle Swimming noting it is for the Susan Williamson Tuition Scholarship.

Thank you for helping to make this happen!
-Amy Wynn

Schools are back to regular schedule, and buses will be on snow routes and may move slower than normal.

Griffin Bay Bookstore, in Collaboration With The San Juan Island Library and The San Juan Preservation Trust presents:

TIDES: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean
By Jonathan White

• Sunday, February 19, 7:00 pm
• San Juan Island Library
• 1010 Guard Street

Expert mariner and marine conservationist Jonathan White’s love for the sea is lifelong. He grew up diving, sailing and fishing on the beaches of Southern California, has logged more than one hundred thousand miles sailing on the Pacific and Atlantic, and has surfed all over the world.

In the 1980s, he founded the Resource Institute, a nonprofit educational organization for which he hosted a renowned seminar series aboard Crusader, a 65-foot wooden schooner that sailed the Pacific Northwest. Crusader’s odysseys nearly ended, however, in 1990 when the boat ran aground and was nearly destroyed on a large tide in Alaska’s Kalinin Bay. Shaken and intrigued by his underestimation of tides and their power, White set off on a quest across the globe to understand the history, science, and majesty of one of our planet’s most remarkable phenomena.  

In Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean White takes readers on a journey of discovery around the globe to witness the largest, fastest, scariest and most amazing tides in the world; he travels to the Arctic to shimmy down a hole in the ice with an Inuit elder to hunt for blue mussels in the dark cavities below; to the Qiantang River in China to witness the Silver Dragon, a twenty-five-foot tidal bore that crashes its way up the eighty-mile river; to California to shadow the Mavericks competition where surfers paddle into deadly waves sixty feet high. In France’s Mont St. Michel he learns how the monks were inspired by the tide; at the Royal Society of London he discovers how Plato and Aristotle, Leonardo de Vinci, Newton, Descartes, and many other noted thinkers had been captivated by the tide’s mystery, and learns that the book that led to Galileo’s arrest for heresy by the Catholic Church was a treatise originally called The Flux and Reflux of the Tides. Continue Reading

For February, the Family Nature Club is promoting Nature Walk: Birds

Join Shona Aitken from Wolf Hollow and become citizen scientists by participating in a global bird study. Counting birds is a fun, free, family-friendly way to discover and help the birds in your community.

Meet at the Westside Lake parking lot, which is located on the east side of Westside Road, about a mile north of Lime Kiln Point State Park.

Be sure to dress for the weather, and bring binoculars if you have them.

• Saturday, February 18, 2017
• 9:00 am to 10:30 am
• Limekiln Preserve, San Juan Island

Please carpool if possible as parking is limited.

Pre-registration is required. RSVP to Raena Parsons at 360-378-2240 ext 2222 or email [email protected].

Pam performs Jin Shin Jyutsu – Contributed photo

Pam Fry enjoys being a detective. She always loved mysteries since she was very young. Her natural curiosity for solving problems and finding their cause and resolution has been a lifetime occupation. It led her into the nursing field 40 years ago and also to a Japanese healing therapy called Jin Shin Jyutsu.

As a nurse she learned how to help people with acute health issues, but early on she knew she wanted to add a hands-on healing therapy to her bedside care. This ultimately led her to this light touch energy balancing treatment in 1981. She has been using it with patients, clients in her private practice and with animals of all kinds.

Whether the person or animal is under stress, or has experienced a crisis of loss, hardship of illness or life circumstance, she can help. Physical pain, post-operative recovery, difficulty sleeping, fatigue and especially mental or emotional stress, can all be helped with her skill and understanding. An important part of her sessions is teaching people how to treat themselves or their animal for continued and accumulative benefits.

Even in perfect health, Jin Shin Jyutsu is useful for health maintenance and prevention. It also feels VERY GOOD! Jin Shin Jyutsu is an excellent therapy for animals because the application of the fingertips gently over points on the body quickly brings benefits one can usually see in the animal as it deeply relaxes and often falls asleep. Continue Reading

Doris Van Alen

Please join us in memory of Doris Van Alen 1/14/1928 to 2/5/2017

2 p.m. Saturday February 11th at the Mullis Center in Friday Harbor.

All are welcome to attend and celebrate Doris’s life.

In lieu of flowers, please bring fresh fruit and vegetables to be donated to the Food Bank after the service.