Music, food, and games are coming to the corner of Spring and Price Streets once again this Fourth of July. The Pig War Picnic, organized by the Kiwanis Club of Friday Harbor, kicks off at 11:30 a.m. following the conclusion of the Fourth of July parade. This year’s schedule includes:

• 11:30 a.m. — Picnic lunch with pulled pork sandwiches, kosher dogs, coleslaw, chips, and hot fudge sundaes. Cash or check only. There’s also a beer garden
• 11:30 a.m. — The Friends of the Library’s cake walk event starts
• 11:45 a.m. — Opening ceremonies, emceed by Kira Sable
• Noon — First music set by the Chameleons
• 12:30 p.m. — Island Rec games begin, including a three-legged race, gunny sack race, egg toss, and pennies in the hay
• 1:15 p.m. — Parade awards, presented by Becki Day
• 1:30 p.m. — Second music set by the Chameleons
• 2:45 p.m. — Watermelon eating contest

Thanks to more than 20 generous business sponsors, all lunch proceeds will benefit programs for San Juan Island children. The Kiwanis Club also thanks St. Francis Parish for their support of the event.

The Friday Harbor Film Festival shares news about their ongoing Director Series.

Haida Gwaii: On the Edge World of the is Friday Harbor Film Festival’s next offering in The Director Series.

This film is an inspiring and hopeful story set on the pristine Haida Gwaii archipelago, showing how the distinct world view of this 14,000-year-old society is co-mingling with an influx of progressive, modern urbanites to create a sustainable world that well may survive the formidable challenges of the 21st century. The natural beauty of this culturally rich archipelago has served as a backdrop for tragedies such as outbreaks of smallpox and the exploitation of natural resources. And yet, the Haida Nation remains undaunted, drawing on literally thousands of years of tradition in preparing for a showdown over the Northern Gateway pipeline and planning for a more sustainable future.

Marsha Lederman of the Globe and Mail observes, “So much more than a profile of this remarkable place and the cast of characters who populate it, this film captures the heart and heartbreak of the clashes it has seen.”

Following a free online showing tonight from 6:30 to 9 p.m., stream the film on demand from July 1-13 for $1.95.

And up a well worn path to get food that two of the neighbors insist on giving them.

View the first shot in this seven-day series and learn more about Brad’s perspective on the foxes of San Juan Island.

• UGALA (short for Unique Goods and Local Art) recently opened at 280 Spring Street. They’re selling art and gifts from local and non-local artists. Local artists interested in working with UGALA can give them a call at 360-472-4002.
• San Juan Historical Museum is hosting their inaugural tractor show — featuring both antique and working tractors — on July 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Friday Harbor Espresso (565 Spring Street) is bringing back their Fourth of July hot dog and bratwurst BBQ. They’ll be grilling and selling in their parking lot until 12:30 p.m.
• Alchemy Art Center still has a few spaces left in their upcoming July classes. You can register online.
• There’s one more On Book performance of Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice at the San Juan Community Theatre, tonight at 7:30 p.m. It’s pay-what-you-can.
• Sound Healing with Jyoti, a meditative acoustic sound concert, takes place at Alchemy Art Center at 6 p.m. next Friday, July 8, with a $10-20 suggested donation.

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Transition San Juan Island’s Waste Reduction group sends along a local introduction to the global Plastic Free July campaign.

San Juan Islanders, you can take steps in your daily life to minimize plastic use and waste. Join us for Plastic Free July by checking out the San Juan Update every day for habit shift inspiration on how you can be waste free.

What you can do

Before you buy, stop and think about the low or no waste options around you. See this article for local resources.

How you can do it

Making small habit shifts while shopping can have a huge impact, and doesn’t have to be expensive.

A good place to start is considering the packaging of the item. When shopping, try choosing the item with the least amount of packaging, switching from plastic to paper or glass packaging, or even choosing loose products with no packaging at the grocers, farmers markets and in bulk.

For reusable products it’s better to purchase something that’s designed to last forever than it is to purchase something that will need replacing regularly.

Taking the next step

Join us for Plastic Free July by checking out the San Juan Update every day for habit shift inspiration on how you can take small attainable steps towards becoming waste free. The steps you take will have a lasting impact on the environment and how you feel. Take a step towards being waste free by focusing on one attainable habit shift in your daily life and practice it on repeat. There’s nothing small about it; every action helps.

Headed for a handout in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, one of them has already been hit in the last few days.

• The Library is hosting Cowboy Buck and Elizabeth at the play shed at Friday Harbor Elementary School today at 1:30 p.m, where they’ll perform songs, comedy, and ventriloquism. Bring blankets and chairs for seating.
• The San Juan County Department of Environmental Stewardship has released an update to their Sustainable Tourism Management Plan. The Public Outreach Report summarizes the findings from recent public events and outlines the next steps in the plan development process.
• Island Rec needs a few volunteers to help run games at the Kiwanis Pig War Picnic on July 4 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Email [email protected] if you’re interested.
• Friday Harbor Labs is hosting an online information session this Friday from noon to 1 p.m. for anyone interested at studying at the Labs this fall quarter. They’re offering two research apprenticeships and a three-course field research program. All courses are 400-level and involve designing your own research project. Register online.
• The Whale Museum’s volunteer open house has been scheduled for Monday, July 11 at noon.
• Here are the week’s specials from Market Place and Kings.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

The Library shares news about some of their upcoming summer youth programming.

The San Juan Island Library is offering a variety of special summer programs for students in grades K-5 and grades 6-12. All programs are free and offered as part of the Library’s summer reading program, Oceans of Possibilities. No prior registration is required to attend.

For grades K-5:

• Tuesday, July 12, 1 p.m., outside on the Fairgrounds front lawn — Make reusable star soakers for playing water games. Prepare to get wet.
• Tuesday, July 26, 1 p.m., outside on the Fairgrounds front lawn — Make a mermaid crown using shells.

For grades 6-12:

• Thursday, June 30, 2 p.m., outside on the Fairgrounds front lawn — Use candy to make your own edible coral reef.
• Thursday, July 7, 2 p.m., outside on the Fairgrounds front lawn — Water games galore. Prepare to get wet.
• Thursday, July 21, 2 p.m., Library Meeting Room — Create a mini-waterscape in glass bottles.
• Friday, July 29, 6:30 p.m., Library Main Salon — Movie and crafts, showing Spider-Man: No Way Home on the Library’s big screen. Spider-Man is rated PG-13. Popcorn and crafts to be provided.

Email [email protected] for more information.

• The pop-up taco shop operating out of Vic’s now has online ordering. They’re open Saturdays and Sundays for breakfast (7-11 a.m.), lunch (12-3 p.m.), and dinner (6 p.m.-close).
• Island Stage Left’s outdoor performances of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors start on Thursday, July 14. The show runs Thursday through Sunday from July 14 through August 14, with the exception of Saturday, July 23. All shows start at 8 p.m. Admission is free but donations are accepted.
• Bakery San Juan will be closed on July 4. Any orders for Thursday or Friday of this week need to be received by the end of the day tomorrow.
• Rock the Dock takes place at the Port of Friday Harbor on July 4 in the upper parking lot. There will be food by Vic’s, a beer garden hosted by the San Juan Lions Club, vendors, and music from Tommy Dale & the Dangerfields, River Rye, and the Farmer’s Market Band. Music starts at 4 p.m.; fireworks kick off at 10:10 p.m.
• Friends of the San Juan Island Library are hosting their Cake Walk event on July 4 after the parade, next to the Catholic church lawn and the Pig War Picnic event.
• Local artists interested in selling at the San Juan Summer Arts Festival — which takes place every Friday night in August from 4 to 10 p.m. outside Brickworks — should send a message to [email protected]. There are still a few spots left.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

The San Juan County Council will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 28 at 9 a.m. The meeting includes a public hearing about the first 2022 budget amendment. Items up for discussion or action include:

• Community food assessment and economic impact of local food
• San Juan County food system housing needs study
• Planning Commission recommendations – Annual Docket requests
• Community Development update
• Communications plan and activities update
• Extend the 2019 and 2020 Public Facilities Finance Assistance Grant Program (PFAPP) contracts for the Fisherman Bay Sewer District Weeks Point Way line replacement project to December 31, 2023
• Transfer of ownership of the County K9 Sucia and schedule a public hearing for July 19

You can view the live stream of the meeting online or attend in person at the Council Legislative Hearing Room. To make a public comment, sign up prior to 9 a.m. on June 28.

San Juan Island Park and Recreation District (Island Rec) is looking for a full-time Park Maintenance Worker. Learn more in the Island Jobs section of the San Juan Update.

The Town of Friday Harbor shares news about this week’s road closures on Warbass Way.

OPALCO is in the process of replacing utility poles on Warbass Way. The work began last Friday and will continue this week from approximately 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. No work will occur on Friday or over the weekend. OPALCO expects the work to take approximately two weeks to complete.

This work will require full closure of Warbass Way at the point of the contractor’s work zone, which means the road will be open to local traffic only; flaggers will be on-site directing local traffic.

Those coming into town via Turn Point Road will be routed up Harrison Street, which will become a two-way street for its entire length. Drivers are urged to use extreme caution while traveling on Harrison Street and Turn Point Road where they intersect because this is a revised traffic pattern. Pedestrians are asked not to walk on Warbass Way during the utility work hours and to use extreme caution while walking on Harrison Street.

Questions on this traffic revision may be directed to Town Public Works Director Jesse Douglas-Seitz at (360) 378-2154 or [email protected].