San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce Featured Member of the Month

Tracy James

Tracy James, a Loan Officer with Eagle Home Mortgage, has been chosen as the Featured Member of the Month for the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce. She was honored when she found out she was chosen, as she loves living here and being involved with the community of Friday Harbor.

“I take a hands-on approach to help my clients get into a new home or to refinance an existing one. I take the time to talk to my clients about their goals, finances, and credit situation in order to find the right program. Many times our initial meeting is spent creating a game plan with my customers that will culminate in the ability to purchase their very first home. I think I’m as excited as they are when we reach this milestone together.”

Tracy specializes in FHA, VA and USDA loans as well as Conventional and Jumbo mortgages and when she’s not at the office she is very involved in her community. She recently moved back to Friday Harbor after spending the last 10 years in Paris, France. She enjoys discovering new trails and places to hike with her dogs, Maddie and Hudson and is looking forward to getting back on stage at the San Juan Community Theatre.

Tracy looks forward to taking care of her clients for years to come and is thrilled to be reacquainting herself with former clients and even helping some of them with their home financing needs.

The Friday Harbor office is located at 260 Spring St, Suite 5, in Sundries Court mall. Contact Tracy James, Loan Officer/NMLS #1332295, today at [email protected] , at the office (360) 298-7413 or on her cell (206) 201-9878.

Rich Frank and Oly Archibald will broadcast Saturday’s game – Contributed photos

This Saturday’s football game between the Raymond Seagulls and the Friday Harbor Wolverines will be broadcast live on the Friday Harbor Sports Radio Network. The game can be heard live on Friday Harbor Tiny Radio 1650 am and on the World Wide Web at fhtinyradio.com

The broadcasting crew will include Oly Archibald in his 37th year of play by play and former Forks H.S. Football Coach and Athletic Director (1976 – 1985) Rich Frank.

The pre-game show from Sedro Woolley High School will start at 11:45 with the kick off at noon.

A prescribed fire in 2014 on Young Hill – Contributed photo

San Juan Island National Historical Park is preparing to conduct a prescribed burn on Young Hill, beginning Wednesday, September 14, 2016, through Friday, September 16, 2016, announces Park Superintendent Elexis Fredy.

The prescribed fire units scheduled to burn will cover approximately 10-30 acres, provided that weather and fuel conditions allow for safe and successful project implementation. These burns are part of the National Park Service’s continued effort to reduce hazard fuel accumulations and restore Garry oak woodlands in the Young Hill area.

“Reducing the fuel levels will help protect park resources and nearby private property and aid in restoring desired conditions within the park,” Fredy said. “Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality and other environmental conditions are continually monitored as part of any fire management operation, so islanders and visitors can be assured that caution and care will be paramount.”

No road closures are anticipated; however, some trails will be closed due to fire activity, particularly those segments around the base of Young Hill and the entire west-facing slope. Park users are advised to keep a safe distance from fire activity at all times, observe cautionary signage during and post-burning, and resist the urge to stop along the roadway or enter the area while burn operations are being conducted.

Information on the prescribed fires will be available at park information stations and at the headquarters office located in Friday Harbor.

Anyone with questions is invited to contact the park Superintendent at 360-378-2240 ext. 2223 or [email protected]. For more information visit the park website, www.nps.gov/sajh, or Facebook page, www.facebook.com/camppickett.

Raffle Pickers – Contributed photo

Discover San Juan Island 2016 is a wrap! The San Juan Island National Historical Park, San Juan County Land Bank, and San Juan Island Library are happy to report the summer-long adventure a success, handing out over 350 discovery kits to islanders and visitors alike. On Friday, September 9th, three lucky adventurers’ names were chosen in a drawing featuring three prizes donated by local businesses.

Adventurer, Emilie, won a $25 gift certificate to Griffin Bay Bookstore; adventurer, Noah, won a punch card for five soft serve ice cream cones at The Bait Shop; and adventurer, Kit, won a game and kid’s binoculars set from SJI National Historical Park.

Discover San Juan Island was an island wide exploration of environmentally, culturally, and historically significant sites. If you have questions, contact Tanja Williamson at the Land Bank: 360-378-4402 or tanjaw [@] sjclandbank.org.

Shelly Van Skyhawk shares this invitation with you…

Negative body image and body shame is something that affects so many people, particularly women. Studies show that the average woman spends 30 years of her life on a diet. This does not include the time she spends between dieting. A recent poll revealed that 91% of women hate their bodies. This disease of “not being enough” is a cultural epidemic and a toxic wound that has affected my life and most of the women I know. My own conflicted relationship with food and my negative body image issues fueled my determination to heal myself from this cycle, which turned into a passion for helping others who struggle in this way.

As a nutritional therapist and eating psychology coach, I have devoted my practice to supporting women in developing a positive relationship with their bodies and with food, as well as with nourishment on all levels.

Earlier this year, I was selected to be a “Global Ambassador” – such a lovely and regal title – for Taryn Brumfitt of Australia, and to partner with her in bringing her personal story of overcoming body shame to as many women as possible. She has just released a documentary in Australia titled, Embrace, The Body Image Movement which profiles her journey. This documentary will be coming to the US for limited release at the end of September.

The film trailer is below: Continue Reading

Fritz is this week’s Pet of the Week

I know what you’re thinking. “Why the long face”, right? Well, if you must know, I’m a little sad and lonely these days. I’m thinking about writing a country western song about how my last “forever” home turned out to actually be an “until it’s inconvenient” home… I think I’ll call it, “Lookin’ for Love in Friday Harbor”.

My name is Fritz and I’m a great, easy-to-get-along-with guy. I like other dogs and don’t even mind living with cats, although I find them tedious and complex.

What I really like is the company of nice folks in a quiet home… with snacks.

Stop by the animal shelter soon to meet me. Maybe we could ride off into the sunset together…

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

The Medical Teams International Dental Van is coming back to the Mullis Center on Friday, October 7th and Saturday October 8th. Fish For Teeth is sponsoring this clinic to provide dental care for anyone who is financially unable to afford it. Applications can be picked up at:

• SJ County Health Department,
• The Family Resource Center
• The Mullis Center
• Or, they may be downloaded from our website fishforteeth.com and dropped off at the Health Department.

Please note that the application deadline is Monday, September 26th. Also, please understand that the kind folks receiving your application have nothing to do with scheduling; scheduling will be made, according to severity and space, the week prior to the clinic.

Maria Elisa da Silva Costa

Maria Elisa da Silva Costa was born on May 24, 1937. She died suddenly on July 24, 2016 while visiting her daughter in Brazil. A memorial service will be held at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Friday Harbor on Wednesday, September 14, at 4 pm.

Maria grew up in a distinguished Brazilian family (her grandfather, Heitor da Silva Costa, was the designer, architect and engineer of the monumental statue of Christ the Redeemer, which overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro, and which was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World).

Her early years were conventional (Catholic school, university, marriage, children) but convention was an ill-fitting garment for this great and free spirit. In middle life she left her past and began a search for truth which she followed throughout her life.

Adopting the name “Jivan,” a Sanskrit term meaning “Life,” she found in India the ancient yet living wisdom she pursued and shared with others. On one such visit to India she met and joined her life to Charles Goodman who was there researching India’s ancient medical system, Ayurveda. Together they travelled to Rishikesh and the source of the river Ganges. There she was initiated in a technique of meditation which she practiced faithfully for the rest of her life.

A truly spiritual person, she radiated life and love to all and had an uplifting influence on virtually everyone she met. She combined a childlike innocence with profound wisdom, and through her work as a psychotherapist, Ayurvedic counselor and meditation coach she helped thousands to a better, healthier life.

Jivan is survived by daughters Lisa and Bel, son Carlos, and husband Charles, grandson Joao and grand-daughter Silvia. Her memory and example will inspire all who knew her to live life more fully and more lovingly.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donors make a contribution to the charity of their choice.

Roche Harbor Salmon Derby – Debbie Sandwith photo

Entry forms are available for the next Roche Harbor Salmon Derby. Here’s a note from Debbie about how you can get registered…

Here we go!

Please find the link below for the entry form for the 2017 Roche Harbor Salmon Classic! Some of our anglers have already signed up and a reminder that this SOLD OUT for 2016 just before Thanksgiving!

Follow the derby on FB: https://www.facebook.com/rocheharborsalmonderby/

Derby web page to print the Derby Entry: http://www.rocheharbor.com/events/derby

We are not set up to accept payment/entries ‘online’ . We accept entry forms 4 ways:

1. CALL in to the Market: 360-378-5562
2. FAX:    360-378-9850
3. EMAIL     [email protected]
4. MAIL :      Roche Harbor Market ATTN: Debbie PO BOX 4001 Roche Harbor, WA 98250!!!

Any and all questions please don’t hesitate to give me a call!

Happy Fall!

Debbie Sandwith

Fall Quarter at the San Juan Center of Skagit Valley College begins Monday, September 19th.

The San Juan Center is pleased to welcome new faculty member, Jill McCabe Johnson. Jill will be teaching English Composition and writing courses. She is the author of two poetry collections, Diary of the One Swelling Sea, winner of a Nautilus Book Award, and Revolutions We’d Hoped We’d Outgrown, due out this fall, plus the nonfiction chapbook, Borderlines.

Jill was the Louise Van Sickle Fellow in Poetry at the University of Nebraska, where she received her PhD in English, and the Deborah Tall Memorial Fellow at Pacific Lutheran University, where she received her MFA in Creative Writing. Jill is the founding director of Artsmith, a non-profit to support the arts. She and her husband love to hike the islands, and cook together at their bed and breakfast on Orcas Island.

We are also pleased to announce that Jane Fox, a familiar face at the San Juan Center as our Ed Planner and Outreach Coordinator, will be expanding her duties to include instructor of literature and journalism within the academic year. Jane’s educational and employment background include an MA in English Literature from University of St. Andrews, Scotland, as well as a Masters in Journalism and Major in Photojournalism from Boston University College of Communication.

Jane’s journalistic background includes work with newspapers and magazines and she has received a number of awards and scholarships both in the United States and in Scotland.

Please join us for the “Cardinal Kick-Off” orientation day at the San Juan Center, Thursday, Sept. 15 with two orientations to choose from:

• Morning schedule 10:00AM-11:30AM meet and greet, with lite lunch or
• Afternoon schedule 12:30-2:00PM meet and greet, with lite lunch.

Please call 378-3220 or email ([email protected]) to reserve your place at either morning or afternoon orientation.

This is the ninth in a series of articles about elections in Washington State by San Juan County Auditor F. Milene Henley. The County Auditor administers elections and voter registration in the County.

The Top Two Primary

Milene Henley – Contributed photo

San Juan County is always one of the highest voter-turnout counties in the State. In fact, I have a friendly rivalry with other county auditors to see which county will have the highest turnout, and I often win. In the August primary, San Juan County reported a 52% turnout, 3.5% higher than the next highest county. Statewide turnout was just under 35%.

I’d like to take credit for the turnout, but the truth is, a lot of it has to do with demographics. San Juan County is among the oldest, whitest, wealthiest and most educated counties in the State. Age, race, income, and education are all positively correlated with voter turnout. That is, older, whiter, wealthier, more educated people vote more than younger, poorer, less white, less educated people.

Yet a disturbing trend is emerging in recent election data, locally as well as state- and nation-wide: voter turnout is going down.

As the graph indicates, from 2008 through 2016, voter turnout in San Juan County has trended downward. That’s true in every type of election, but is most pronounced in the November (“general”) elections – the elections that determine most of our leaders and many of our most important measures.

Declining voter turnout is a hot topic nationwide. Continue Reading

Free Workshop for Shoreline Property Owners and Managers September 24th

Interested in learning more about your shoreline property and how it can help feed salmon, seabirds and orca? Join engineering geologist and shoreline erosion management expert Jim Johannessen of Coastal Geologic Services and nearshore habitat biologist Tina Whitman of Friends of the San Juans for guidance on protecting your shoreline investment into the future.

The free workshop includes: a site visit to a bluff and beach restoration site; a presentation and discussion of successful strategies to evaluate and address key management concerns, including vegetation, runoff, and habitat friendly bank stabilization; site specific information on priority processes, habitats and species; and additional resources for property owners and managers. The workshop will take place Saturday, September 24 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the San Juan Island Grange in Friday Harbor.

Pre-registration is required (space is limited on the boat to the Brown Island field trip site). Interested workshop participants may qualify for free shoreline property evaluations and expert site visits. For more information or to register please call Friends of the San Juans at 360-378-2319 or email tina [@] sanjuans.org.

Contributed photo

All gardeners are invited to this year’s 2016 Annual Gardening Workshop: Secrets of Gardening, presented by the San Juan County Master Gardeners at Friday Harbor Middle School on Saturday, October 1st, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This year’s keynote speaker will be author and biologist Thor Hanson (thorhanson.net), speaking about seeds, based on his recent fascinating book, The Triumph of Seeds.

This all-day workshop will feature horticultural professionals and expert garden enthusiasts speaking on topics ranging from Utilizing Cold Frames and Unheated Greenhouses in the Pacific Northwest, to Tomato Magic.

Tickets are $40 in advance, and $45 at the door, and are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2589005
For more information about the workshop visit the Master Gardener Foundation website or call 360-378-4414.

EDC offers FREE workshop on business planning and financing

The San Juan County Economic Development Council will present a FREE workshop for small businesses and entrepreneurs on San Juan Island, on Monday, September 19th from 11 a.m. -2:30 p.m. Advance registration is required.

The business and financing workshop course material will be presented by Tony Salas of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County, a management consultant for over a decade.

As part of the workshop, Salas will cover business financing, discuss a variety of financing options and will provide a reality check for those considering a new or expanded business venture. He will be available for one-on-one consultation after the workshop.

Participants in the workshop will leave with the resources and support they need to create a business plan including a realistic financial plan. In addition, Salas will cover current federal and Washington State tax incentive programs for small businesses.

Details: San Juan Island, on Monday, September 19th from 11 a.m. -2:30 p.m. at Heritage Bank in Friday Harbor. Advance registration is required; please call 360-378-2906 to reserve your space, or email: info [@] sanjuansedc.org.

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans is pleased to bring Diane Berreth, professional moderator and facilitator, from Orcas Island to present a program “Moderating Election (and other) Panels, Forums and Debates” at its monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 19 from noon to 2 p.m. at the San Juan Island Public Library.

This workshop is intended for LWV members and the public who may be interested in the basics of moderating and facilitating formal and informal discussions, debates and forums.  Participants will identify characteristics of effective and ineffective moderators they’ve seen and learn tools to empower them to moderate civil meetings.  The agenda calls for tips on ground rules, staying on the agreed-upon agenda, and handling difficult or ineffective speakers or audience members.

The moderating skills that we will be working on can be used in both formal and informal discussions in this time period leading up to the elections in November, and they are not exclusive to election forums.

Diane Berreth has facilitated non-profit education and community groups on Orcas Island (and beyond) for the last ten years.  Her professional career was in the Washington, D.C. area; as a non-profit executive she focused on quality and equity in education.  During that period she participated in, and moderated, panels focused on education issues.  The participants included scholars, education professionals and politicians and others active in the public sector.

Plan to come to the Sept. 19 (3rd Monday this month) General Meeting from noon to 2 p.m. at the San Juan Island Library in Friday Harbor. For questions, call 317-7518.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
For further information, go to www.lwvwa.org.

Photo via Pixabay by tpsdave

Let’s see what’s in the mailbag today… Here’s a good one: a San Juan Update reader from California, Paul Denikin, shares this set of tips on Ecologically Friendly remodeling tips for your home. Check them out below and be sure to visit his website…

The Best Eco-Friendly Remodeling Tips

Going green is an important part of all our lives now as we look to the future and think about how to sustain the Earth for future generations. It’s not always easy to know where to begin, however, and it can be costly and time-consuming to do major renovations around the house. But there are things you can do to make your home more eco-friendly during remodeling that won’t break the bank and will ensure you’re making environmentally-conscious decisions that can have a lasting effect.

Whether you want to upgrade your flooring, lighting, windows, or just your way of living altogether, it’s important to remember to think about your family’s needs and see if you can introduce new materials to get the job done, no matter how big or small. Here are some of the best tips:

Get efficient
Energy-efficient windows and light bulbs are two of the best and easiest ways to cut back on energy bills and go green. Replacing regular bulbs in the most-used rooms of the house can not only save you around $75 each year in utility costs, they’ll also last longer. Windows that are properly insulated and have a good seal mean you won’t lose cool or hot air from season to season, which can save you big on energy costs.

Repurpose and reclaim
Using repurposed or reclaimed items for remodeling countertops, kitchen flooring, and even appliances can be great for your budget as well as for the environment. Reclaimed wood is perfect for kitchen projects, while bamboo flooring is a great alternative to hardwood for living room and bedroom spaces. Because bamboo grows very quickly, it’s a sustainable material that will save timber from being cut down.

Make the sun work for you
Continue Reading