Photo by Anne Sheridan – Click to enlarge

Over 150 people came to San Juan County Park on MLK day to oppose the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline project. If the pipeline is allowed as proceed as proposed it will increase the tanker shipping in Haro Straits from 5 tankers a month to 34 tankers and three barges per month.

This increase in the risk of a major Oil spill is unacceptable to Protectors of the Salish Sea, siting threats to Orcas, marine ecosystems, beaches and property values in San Juan County.

For more information on San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping, ways to share your concerns and and upcoming events, contact:

Liza Michaelson
lizamichaelson [@] gmail.com

If that photo above isn’t big enough for you, click here to see the full size one. (938 kb)

Okay Oakies – the weather has turned favorable and the ground has softened to make work on the mountain plausible!

This Sunday’s plans are to pick up where we left off in 2016: the continuation of cage cleaning, as well as pruning the saplings within them. And, with luck, a little thistle and blackberry removal as well.

• When?
  Sunday, January 22
  10:00am to 2:00pm
  **Note: Check email Sunday morning if weather is questionable – Thom will make the decision to cancel or go forth into the elements.
• RSVP required ( e-mail Tanja at tanjaw [@] sjclandbank.org ).
• Where?
  Base of Cady Mountain Preserve – turn on to Cady Mountain Road off of West Valley Road. We’ll meet at the triangle junction about 100 yards from West Valley.
• What?
  Cleaning existing caged oaks
  Thistle and blackberry removal
• Bring/Wear?
  Hand pruners
  Plant trowel or Hori Hori
  Small loppers
  Weather appropriate clothing
  Water

Tanja Williamson
Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator

This is shared with you from the Whale Museum…

Photo collage of Granny and members of the Southern Resident orcas by Jeanne Hyde – Click to enlarge

It is with great respect we say goodbye to Granny (J-2). She led her community through many trying times, from captures, industrialization, to the current depletion of their main food source Chinook salmon.

Granny was there through the thick of it all and she taught and passed on her knowledge to others. She also liked to have fun! Whether cartwheeling, breaching, or surrounded by others she was a joy to see. The question would often arise, “Has anyone see Granny today?”

She might have been in the lead by a mile, mixed in with others or trailing behind but Granny was always there with J Pod. We humans expressed concern about her, our orca friend. After all, she was one of our family.

The time came when encounter after encounter, the question was asked if anyone had seen Granny. The reply came in the form of silence. That silence grew until it was confirmed that Granny was missing. She had not been seen in over two months and was believed to be deceased (announcement by the Center for Whale Research, December 31, 2016).

Many are sharing their memories and photos of Granny. Please join them by submitting your Granny stories and/or photos here: [email protected]. They will contribute to a permanent exhibit at The Whale Museum so others can learn about Granny and how she touched the lives of so many people over the years.

* * *

Photo collage of DoubleStuf and members of the Southern Resident orcas by Jeanne Hyde – Click to enlarge

We also have to say goodbye to DoubleStuf (J-34) whose death was unexpected and truly shocking. He was first seen in Puget Sound in early December, 1997 and died December 20, 2016.

His body was found near Sechelt, B.C. Initial necropsy results conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada determined he died of blunt force trauma. Necropsy updates will be posted here when they become available. 

DoubleStuf traveled close to his mother Oreo (J-22). He had a tall narrow dorsal fin, was just coming into adulthood, and was often seen chasing after a salmon. This beautiful whale will be greatly missed.

Bits & Spurs club members show off their new hoodies – Contributed photo

Nancy Ballman shares this news from the local 4-H horse club “Bits & Spurs”…

Thanks to a generous donation from Islanders Bank and the helpful assistance of Alexandra Sherlock, Bits & Spurs was able to purchase new 4-H club hoodies which you will be able to see them wearing when they ride at the fair.

They would like to say a big Thank You to Islanders Bank and Alexandra! 

Bits & Spurs is the local 4-H Horsemanship club – a non profit group who meet monthly and have project horses that they take care of year-round. It is their responsibility to make sure the horses are fed and their stalls are cleaned daily. They also go to clinics and ride together as much as possible. They keep a project book up to date and turn it in before the Fair and then show their horses at the Fair. They also do a demonstration and a community project.

Nancy hopes to get the word out about this group to try and get more members. Their next meeting will be in February and will be announced on Facebook. To learn more about the group, visit the local 4H web site.

Merri Ann Simonson shares another SJI Lifestyle video. This one offers tips on what some islanders do in the fall and winter.  Because not everyone goes to Hawaii or Mexico.

San Juan County Department of Community Development (DCD) is accepting applications for detached ADU permits proposed outside of urban growth areas and activity centers until 4:30 pm February 13 2017.  There are 8 permits for the construction of new ADUs and 2 permits for the conversion of existing accessory structures, legally in existence for five years.

Steve Ulvi, Bob Kleven, Attilio Galli, Dina Melic, Bridget Nyberg, Peter Goddu, Gay Graham, Sarah Crosby, Steve Bowman. Not pictured are Chinmayo, Chary Caren, Maia Yip and Executive Director Nancy DeVaux – Contributed photo

The San Juan Community Home Trust held its New Board Member Orientation on Saturday, January 14th. The purpose of the meeting was both to inform new members of our Mission, History and Responsibilities, and to bring all of us to a similar level of understanding of the nuts and bolts of Home Trust operations. All came away with renewed energy to serve affordable housing needs on the island, given that the County Council and other non-profits have made the issue a top priority for 2017.

Executive Director Nancy DeVaux began by giving a history of the organization and some of the unique aspects of each of the three neighborhoods developed by the Home Trust, including our state of the art LOSS (Large Onsite Sewer System) in Sun Rise. Dina Melic and Chinmayo spoke of the Ambassador Program to which they have been appointed, and which lobbies national legislators on affordable housing issues. Peter Goddu spoke of the legal responsibilities of board members; Attilio Galli spoke of fiduciary matters; Gay Graham spoke about Fundraising, the ongoing job of members of nonprofit boards.

In talking about our neighborhoods and how they benefit San Juan Island, notable points made:

• Home ownership of a permanently affordable home allows wealth building on the part of islanders. Some have been able to start businesses, not having had to use as high a percentage of their income on housing. Others have sold and moved into market rate homes, having had the stability and time to build equity while owning a permanently affordable home.
• Home Trust homeowners pay property taxes on the assessed fair-market value of their homes, contributing to the tax base of the island.

Accompanied by pastries and copious amounts of coffee and questions, the Orientation was an intense but very productive 4 hours session.

The restaurant at Friday Harbor House is having a special on Valentine’s Day. Here they are with more on that…

Join the restaurant at Friday Harbor House for a Valentine’s celebration to remember. Enjoy a champagne toast on arrival, followed by 5-courses of scintillating cuisine inspired by the flavors of love and natural aphrodisiacs. The menu will be revealed upon arrival to make for an exciting and delectable evening.

Tuesday, February 14, 2016 | 5pm – 9pm
$99 per person and champagne on arrival; optional $35 wine pairing.

Reservations highly recommended. Taxes and gratuity not included. Wine pairing available for purchase upon arrival.

San Juan County’s 2017 Point in Time Homeless Count will be conducted on Thursday, January 26th. Count organizers and volunteers work with local family resource centers, food banks, churches, healthcare providers, senior centers, libraries, the sheriff’s office, and many other community support service providers to conduct the count. The count, initiated by the State of Washington in 2005 (RCW43.185C.030), is conducted annually at the end of January. 

Annual Point in Time Count

Michael, Nancy and Barb counting birds on 12/31/2016 – Tim Dustrude photo

Here’s a note from Barbara Jensen about the recent Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count…

I have finally crunched the numbers for the CBC and even though the weather was not the best, lots of areas were covered and lots of birds seen, here are some of the highlights:

• 81 people participated, in 32 parties and 12 feeder counts.
• They spent almost 80 hours on foot and covered over 75 miles.
• 10 hours were spent on boats and covered over 40 miles!
• Almost 170 miles were traveled by car in 34 hours.

Barb, Max, Blake, Michael, Jeanette and Nancy – Tim Dustrude photo

Species Highlights: Numbers were generally down due to stormy weather but 114 species were seen.
There were several high numbers (highest recorded numbers for any count): Cackling Goose, Black Turnstone, Mew Gull, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl, Anna’s Hummingbird (124! and only a few years ago they were not on the count), Northern Flicker, Western Bluebird (first year on the count), Townsend’s Solitaire, Slat-colored Junco (a first), White-crowned Sparrow and Red-winged Blackbird.

The White Crowned Sparrow had high numbers on the bird count this year – Tim Dustrude photo

I was surprised there was not the usual Turkey Vulture on Lopez and there was only one Peregrine Falcon in the count. The Burrowing Owl at American Camp left before the count, darn.

I want to send a huge thank you to everyone who braved the weather and especially want to thank Kim Middleton, our Orcas coordinator and Beth St. George our Lopez coordinator as they put so much work and enthusiasm into the project.

Happy New Year to you all and I hope to see you on one of our field trips.

See detailed information here. (PDF)

Downy Woodpecker – Tim Dustrude photo

San Juan County Health and Community Services Urges Public Action to Prevent Spread of Influenza

WA Dept of Health – Flu Update

Take the original story and music from the original motion picture, add a little steampunk to the costumes, a little modern technology to the set and some 60 local youth, and you have THE WIZARD of OZ, island and San Juan Community Theatre-style!

Dorothy – Contributed photo

Directed by Jenni Merritt, the FHHS & FHMS production opens this Thursday, January 19 at 7:30 pm with a “Pay What You Can” at the door. Then tickets are available for more shows on Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2:00 pm.

A 75-year-old classic returns to the Whittier stage for the first time in 25 years.  And it will have us all humming favorites like Over the Rainbow, Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead and If I Only had a Brain/Heart/Nerve.

Jenni Merritt, Drama Director for both Friday Harbor Middle School and Friday Harbor High School, chose The Wizard of Oz because she “wanted to do a musical that both kids and their parents would know, pulling everyone in.”  She also chose her first fully-staged musical as a director to include students from both schools, something that hasn’t been done for several years. 

The Tinman, the Scarecrow and the Lion – Contributed photo

“I’d like this to become a norm every few years,” Jenni said.  “High schoolers can help guide the younger students and be reminded at the same time what it’s like to be that age.  Plus, there’s strength in numbers and this is a big musical.”

Glinda – Contributed photo

Jenni adds that she is drawn by the magic in the beloved musical and the message of seeing the good in where you live.  So many islanders who grew up here (like herself), she says, can’t wait to move off island and then do eventually return, because “there’s no place like home.”

For tickets, visit www.sjctheatre.org or the box office (378-3210).

Photo: S. Oliveira/COASST

Photo: B. Blackie/COASST

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) will deliver two free training sessions: one focused on beached birds and one focused on marine debris. The Beached Bird training will be held in Eastsound, WA on Saturday, January 28 and the Marine Debris training will be held in Friday Harbor, WA on Sunday, January 29.

COASST is a citizen science project of the University of Washington in partnership with state, tribal, and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups. COASST believes citizens of coastal communities are essential scientific partners in monitoring marine ecosystem health. By collaborating with citizens, natural resource management agencies and environmental organizations, COASST works to translate long-term monitoring into effective marine conservation solutions. Currently, more than 800 participants survey beaches in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska.

COASST participants help make a difference for the environment by collecting data on beach-cast carcasses of marine birds or on the characteristics of marine debris to help address important marine conservation issues and protect marine resources. In the COASST Beached Bird program, participants collect data on beach-cast seabirds to establish the baseline pattern of beached bird mortality on North Pacific beaches. In the COASST Marine Debris program, participants characterize and measure the abundance of marine debris to increase our understanding of the source and transport pathways of debris, as well as to the potential harm to people, wildlife, and local coastal ecosystems. Continue Reading

From the kitchen to the streets: these heels and pearls are made for walking…

Residents of the San Juan Islands are coming together to support human rights and the environment in our county and our country. A community march is planned for Saturday, January 21st at 12:00pm noon. This march is in conjunction with the larger national and regional marches in Washington D.C., Seattle, and across the country.

Our mission is to spread love, hope, community, empowerment, and awareness; to stand in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, our environment, and our families. Our women’s led movement recognizes that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our county and our country.

The Women’s March on Friday Harbor hopes to continue to strengthen the sense of community and support that already exists within our island home; some businesses are even closing during the march so their employees can participate. While we call it a women’s march, all are invited and encouraged to participate, regardless of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, age, ability, political affiliation, religion, or sexual orientation. This is truly an event for everyone. Because women’s rights are human rights.

The Women’s March on Friday Harbor will meet on the Friday Harbor Courthouse lawn at noon on Saturday, January 21st. The march route will take us through town and end at the Friday Harbor Middle School commons where there will be a reception. This will include live broadcasts of the marches in D.C. and Seattle, local speakers, coffee and light snacks, opportunities for activism, and community booths.

Media: www.womensmarch.com
www.facebook.com/womenmarchfh
www.facebook.com/events/1321162791274798
www.gofundme.com/womens-march-on-friday-harbor?ssid=861834774&pos=1

Peggy Sue McRae shares this story…

Delphina Liles Teaching Chair Yoga – Photo Peggy Sue McRae

On Friday I went to the chair yoga class at the Mullis Center. Chair yoga is a gentle alternative to getting-down-on-the-floor yoga. Whether you have physical limitations or would like to learn yoga that you can do at your desk, chair yoga offers yoga’s benefits without the strain.

Teaching the class is Delphina Liles. Delphina was hired by the county in September. She serves Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan Islands as the aging and family case coordinator. She serves people needing long-term care and provides support for family caregivers. One of her goals is to keep seniors moving in ways that are beneficial as well as fun. The Mullis Center, she said, “is an opportunity to create community”.

Delphina is trained as an instructor in Anusara Yoga (Anusara means “flowing with grace”) and has taught chair yoga, restorative yoga, and has worked with at-risk youth. She has even worked in the attorney general’s office teaching stress release.

The popular media view of yoga, lithe bodies in acrobatic poses, can be intimidating but yoga is adaptable to all bodies and abilities. Even the subtlest movements in yoga can be deceptively effective. In the article Seniors Can Find Confidence and Flow in Yoga Practice, Anne-Marie Botek writes, “Research on yoga is still in its infancy, but some promising results regarding the benefits of practicing the discipline have been published. Yoga has been shown to: improve sleep quality and improve depression, reduce stress, help control blood sugar in people with diabetes, enhance respiratory function, help alleviate arthritis pain, increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis, improve balance, and moderate chronic pain”.

Classes are Friday at 10:00 am at the Mullis Center. There is a suggested donation of $3 – $5 for the facility. Wear warm comfy clothes; bring a water bottle and a desire to learn.

That’s False Bay Preserve in the foreground and Zylstra Lake in the upper left background of this image by Chris Teren

The Land Bank shares more good news…

We Won! We Won!

Fun Fact: on January 5, 1933, construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began in the San Francisco bay. Fast forward to January 5, 2017: Zylstra Lake, on San Juan Island, was awarded a $1 million federal coastal wetlands grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  

What’s the connection, you ask? Winning this grant will help “bridge the gap” of the remaining funds needed for the property’s $2.7 million purchase price. And, your Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust hope to win a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant in the amount of $1.1 million, which would complete the bridge and fully fund the project! Since this is a state grant, we’ll have to wait until the legislature approves the upcoming budget.

To learn about all the contributors, or read the complete USFWS news release, click here.