Mayor Carrie Lacher was recently awarded the Certificate of Advanced Municipal Leadership (CML) by the Association of Washington Cities.

Mayor Lacher earned the certificate by completing over 60 learning credits through several workshops and meetings offered by the AWC to mayors and council members of Washington cities and towns. The CML program includes training on subjects such as municipal fiscal management, land use and economic development. The CML program is designed to enhance the ability of elected officials to effectively operate within the law, plan for the future, secure and manage funds and foster community and staff relationships.

“The courses and seminars presented by AWC are useful and well-done,” said Mayor Carrie Lacher. “The association is a great resource, especially for small towns like Friday Harbor, and I look forward to continued participation in the program by Town officials.”

AWC is a private, non-profit, non-partisan corporation that represents Washington’s cities and towns before the State legislature. Membership is voluntary, however AWC maintains 100% participation from Washington’s 281 cities and towns. The goal of AWC is to create and maintain livable cities and towns throughout the State.

Extra, Extra! Read All About It!

An e-version of the San Juan Preservation Trust’s August 2016 Island Dispatch newsletter is now live on the web. Click here to view it.

Here’s a preview of what you’ll find:

• Guardians Forever: Monitoring SJPT’s 226 (and counting) conservation easements is a big job that we take very seriously. Plus,
  What Is a Conservation Easement?
• Views From the Top: Mount Grant Preserve gets rave reviews during Sundays at the Summit.
• A Visionary Tradition: Bob and Pat Jester’s legacy of conservation.

Read all about it right here!

The Community Foundation was once again gratified by the amazing generosity of islanders last week at the 2016 San Juan County Fair when over $28,000 was donated to eight different projects featured in the matching program. This amount was raised in just the four days of the Fair!

The Foundation, in turn, will match those donations 50 cents on every dollar raised until each project goal is met, thereby allowing $40,000 to be granted to the following projects:

• Animal Protection Society’s New Animal Shelter
• SJICF Women’s Fund Membership Drive
• Family Resource Center’s Emergency Rental Assistance
• Family Resource Center’s Island Neighbors
• Friday Harbor Elementary School’s Inquisitive Children Succeed
• Island Oil Spill Association’s Improved Oil Spill Response Time
• San Juan Historical Museum’s Protection for Vintage Thresher
• San Juan County’s Derelict Vessel Prevention

At the conclusion of the 2016 San Juan County Fair, seven-year-old, Ava Bennett from Lopez Island, reached into the glass jar that held names of all 98 contributors at the Community Foundation’s booth – and drew out the name of Louise Dustrude. That gave Louise the opportunity to select the nonprofit beneficiary of a bonus $1,000 from the Foundation. She chose the Family Resource Center’s Emergency Rental Assistance Project to be the lucky recipient.

The Community Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to all who made this annual event so enjoyable – and so successful. Thank you!

The San Juan Island Community Foundation serves as a non-profit philanthropic umbrella organization helping donors, non-profits and public organizations to achieve their goals through direct grants, organizational assistance and philanthropic resource management. For further information about the Community Foundation, call 378-1001, write to PO Box 1352, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 or, visit the office located at 640 Mullis St., Suite 104, Friday Harbor, WA.

Salish Sea Ballet invites dancers of all ages, and their families, to attend our Back To Ballet Event on Sunday, August 28th from 2:00pm-6:00pm. Stop by to register for fall classes, enjoy refreshments, and take a free trial class! Meet the studio owner and faculty, and find out what makes our classes so popular among island dancers.

Free trial classes (no experience necessary!) will be offered at the following times:

• Pre-Ballet/Ballet Basics (Ages 3-5): 2:30pm-3:00pm
• Ballet 1 (Ages 6-10): 3:30pm-4:00pm
• Ballet 2 & up (Ages 8-12): 4:30pm-5:00pm
• Adult Contemporary Dance (Ages 12+): 5:15pm-5:45pm

The Salish Sea Ballet Boutique is stocked with logo T-shirts, leotards, tights, shoes, tutus, and more. Enjoy a 20% discount on your Boutique purchase at our Back To Ballet Event. Enter your name in the raffle to win free classes or Salish Sea Ballet gear!

About Salish Sea Ballet  Continue Reading

The Golden Rule – Contributed photo

You’re invited to celebrate the arrival of the ketch, Golden Rule, in Friday Harbor. She will be stopping over on her way from the Vancouver Wooden Boat Show to the Victoria Classic Boat Festival. Purchased by the Quakers in 1958, she gained international recognition for her attempt to sail into the nuclear test zone in the Marshall Islands. This action generated world-wide attention, and contributed to the adoption of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016:

10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Tours aboard Golden Rule in the Port of Friday Harbor. Visit with the crew and learn more about her history.

 Noon – 5:00 pm. Listen to great music in Fairweather Park. On the schedule is:

• Howard & Celina Wright of Skylark Musica – Friday Harbor
• Tom Rawson on his Banjo – Orcas Island
• Ed Wilson with his eloquent guitar – Friday Harbor
• Sharon Abreu, famous throughout the United States for her performances of the Climate Monologues – Orcas Island

6:00 pm. Doors open at the San Juan Island Yacht Club for a lasagna dinner at $20 per person. This is your chance to enjoy magnificent views overlooking the harbor, and to hear the perspectives of Gerry Condon, the national VP of Veterans for Peace. Also speaking will be the project coordinator for the Golden Rule Project, a representative of the San Juan Island Quakers, and Terry Lush, whose family owned Golden Rule for 15 years in the 1970’s and 80’s.

For a video with a bit more information about Golden Rule, click on this link: Golden Rule – Mission & History, or go to our Facebook Page. And if you would like to attend our dinner, please let us know by signing up on our Facebook Page, emailing me at [email protected], or calling Linda or me at (360) 378-7004.

*** Be a part of this historic mission! ***

The NRDC invites you to The Whale Museum next Tuesday for this screening of Sonic Sea…

Please join us at The Whale Museum on August 30 for a special kickoff screening of NRDC’s new documentary film “Sonic Sea.”

Once quiet, our seas are now filled with a cacophony of noise unleashed by oil prospectors, freight ships and military vessels that is making it hard for whales and other marine animals to survive.

“Sonic Sea” explores these devastating effects through the gripping story of former U.S. Navy officer, Ken Balcomb, who solved the mystery of a mass whale stranding and forever changed the way we understand our impact on the ocean.

Narrated by Rachel McAdams, the film features Sting and ocean luminaries Jean-Michel Cousteau, Dr. Sylvia Earle and Dr. Christopher Clark. “Sonic Sea” was produced by NRDC and Imaginary Forces in association with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Diamond Docs.

The 60-minute screening will be followed by a conversation with Michael Jasny, director of NRDC’s Marine Mammal Protection Project.

• What: “Sonic Sea” documentary screening and Q&A discussion
• When: Tuesday, August 30, 6:30 p.m.
• Where: The Whale Museum, 62 1st Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250

No registration is required, but seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

After this special kick-off screening, “Sonic Sea” will be shown continuously in The Whale Museum’s Exhibit Hall beginning August 31. For museum hours and more about the museum, click here: http://whalemuseum.org/

Visit www.SonicSea.org to find out more about the film and what you can do to protect marine life from the harmful impacts of ocean noise.

Hope you’ll be able to make it on August 30!

Photo by Dave Ellifrit Center for Whale Research

Sad news from the Center for Whale Research…

J14, a 42-year old female in J pod, is considered missing. Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research last saw her on July 31. Center for Whale Research staff members have since had three on-the-water encounters with the rest of her matriline but she was not present.

J14, also known as Samish – who was named by the Samish Tribe, was born in 1974, the first year Dr. Mike Bigg, commissioned by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, started studying the Southern Resident killer whales. She has three living offspring: daughters J37 and J40 and son J45, she is also grandmother to J37’s calf J49. J14 is the only known daughter of J12 and a possible  descendant  of J2.

CWR staff member Melisa Pinnow last photographed J14 from shore on August 3rd. When last seen in July, J14 gave no indication of being sick or otherwise unhealthy.

We will wait to have one more definitive encounter with the J’s before recording her as indeed deceased.

Rosa Blair at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico – Photo Rosa Blair

There is a new counselor in town. But wait, many of you probably know Rosa Blair. Rosa grew up here. You may know her as a gardener or as an artist but did you know that she has earned her Master of Science degree in counseling specializing in clinical mental health? Or that she has two additional certifications for working with grief and loss? Rosa also interned overseeing the art therapy program at an eating disorder clinic and studied under a clinical social worker and healer of Lakota descent. Through him she came to understand a Native American perspective on healing and the power of ceremony while working with the Tewa tribes of Northern New Mexico.

Rosa was a low-residency student at Prescott College in Arizona and through that program was able to maintain her local Plant Care business and with her husband Grisha, build a home on the Island while attending graduate school. When it came time for her internship though she needed to find broader opportunities so packed up the family for a sojourn in New Mexico. Says Rosa; “I love New Mexico for its cultural diversity, strong indigenous presence, art, history, and overall geographical awesomeness.”

Rosa with Gusgus, Fe, and Karuna on Mt. Grant – Photo Mike Lazzari

Now Rosa is back with her private practice, Wise Self Counseling, and an office on the edge of town. She also offers nature-based counseling on a private piece of land. One thing about growing up on the Island that Rosa innately understands is the importance of privacy. “I know all too well that island life can feel like living in a bubble or under a microscope.” says Rosa, “I want to make it very clear that I honor each person’s right to privacy and utmost confidentiality. It is imperative that people feel safe, respected, and given adequate space. I think this issue cannot be overemphasized.”

It is great to have Rosa back, and with all of her new insights and skills she is an even greater asset to our community than ever. Says Rosa, “I am deeply in love with our island community, with all its challenges, changes, and idiosyncrasies, and hold the conviction that it is worth my unconditional support.”

Link to: Wise Self Counseling

Summer Summit of Mount Grant – Artwork by Lisa Lawrence

Alice Hurd of the San Juan Preservation Trust tells us about an online art auction going on now until Labor Day…

There are now 12 paintings ( watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel and pen/ink!) each depicting some of the wonderful views from the summit of Mount Grant.   Nearly all were done within in the  last five weeks, and all are by  San Juan Island artists who generously donated the pieces for us to sell  to raise money  to establish and care for the Mount Grant Preserve!

These were all on display in the Land Bank booth at the County Fair.   Originally 17 of them,  5 have sold and  12 remain.   To visit the auction site, go to http://sjpt.org/news/art-auction-for-mount-grant-preserve/  Winning bids will go directly to the purchase of Mount Grant.  And, better yet, all funds will be matched 100%!   It is a great opportunity!

Mount Grant View – Artwork by Glenn Hedrick

Becky Day at the Chamber sends word of the new Blackfish Bistro…

Cutting the Ribbon at Blackfish Bistro – Photo Tamara Weaver

Today the Mayor, Carrie Lacher, and the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed the Black Fish Bistro & Martini Bar to the Town of Friday Harbor with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The restaurant features farm-to-fork and tide-to-table Pacific Northwest cuisine with a rustic French flair. The Bistro seats approximately 40 customers upstairs and downstairs, will be open from 5:00-11:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and is located in the alley off First Street, opposite The Bean.

There are plans to open for lunch as soon as more staff are hired. Menu items include local seafood (oysters, clams, mussels, crab, shrimp, salmon, etc.), warm and cold bistro salads, gourmet sandwiches, steak pomme frites, a dessert selection, and more. Local, featured farms include Blue Moon Produce, Jones Family Farms, Mama Bird Farm, Imagine Organics Farm, and others in the future. The upstairs craft cocktail bar will serve martinis ranging from classic to sweet, as well as old and new world wines, and local and regional beer, cider and spirits. The restaurant and culinary “starting team” includes owner Hobbes Buchanan, General Manager Anna Lisa Lindstrum, Executive Chef Joran Bouwman, Chef Alphonsine HasletPhillips, Sous Chef Desi Melendez, and Bartender Inness Davis.

“My dream has finally become reality,” said Buchanan who was involved in the restaurant industry in San Francisco before moving to the San Juans in 2001. “I’ve been wanting to open a restaurant in the Islands for many years, to continue to help put Friday Harbor on the map as a foodie destination. My chef and restaurant inspirations have been Patricia Unterman and Jacquelyn (J.J.) Buchanan, Hayes Street Grill, San Francisco; Alice Waters, Chez Panisse, Berkley; Cindy Pawlcyn, Mustards Grill, Napa; The Long Melford Swan in Suffolk, England; and locals John and Joni Trumbull of Roses Bakery Cafe in Eastsound.

His new culinary team looks forward to serving our Islanders and guests delicious food and drinks!” Contact: Hobbes Buchanan 360-298-0012, Friday Harbor, WA, www.facebook.com/blackfishbistro.

Cathy Degnan at Skagit Valley College’s San Juan Center let’s us know about some new classes being offered fall quarter…

Sunny Deck at San Juan Center – Photo Cathy Degnan

Start or continue your education and join your class at the San Juan Center of Skagit Valley College.

The San Juan Center of Skagit Valley College is now open for fall advising and registration.  Fall quarter begins Sept. 19.  Call or come by at 221 Weber Way, Friday Harbor (360) 378-3220.

San Juan Center fall quarter course credit offerings are listed below.

**For life-long learners, some of the San Juan Center academic classes may be taken by community members as non-credit courses at a greatly reduced cost

EASC 110  Energy and Society **

An exploration of the scientific basis for our conventional energy resources (fossil fuels, nuclear, hydro) and for renewable/sustainable energy resources (solar, wind, biomass etc.). Surveys the political, social, economic and environmental context of how our culture uses energy and the barriers to large-scale renewable energy implementation.  Lab incl.

5 credits  11:30AM – 2:00PM       MW

ENGL 099 Basic Composition

The study of fundamentals of grammar, syntax, and composition leading to the construction of effective sentences, paragraphs, and essays. Prerequisite: Grade of 2.0 or higher in ENGL 097, ENGL 098, or ESL 098, or appropriate test score.

5 credits  8:45 AM – 11:00 AM     T/TH

Continue Reading

Stephanie Prima Movement – Contributed Photo

Stephanie Prima offers new classes…

If you know you need to get started with preventative self-care but don’t know where to start, and ‘exercise’ doesn’t appeal to you … OR

If you have limited mobility, chronic aches and pains, and would like to feel fluid again… OR

If you want to calm the mind and connect with your inner self to tame stress and regain focus, but classic meditation is not your thing… It’s time for you to take charge of your health!

Stephanie Prima’s one-of-a-kind holistic movement class will help you do just that. It starts up again weekly beginning on Monday, September 12 in the Community Room at Skagit College, 4:30 – 5:30 pm.

The gentle, flowing movements of this unique class are simple to learn but deceptively powerful on both the physical and emotional level. In one hour you feel rejuvenated but also focused and calmed; it’s an indescribable sense of “aliveness” and “awareness” that is unlike any other form of exercise. Felicity M said “the movements are small and simple but one feels the obvious effects afterwards: I feel grounded and calm.”

Movements are done both seated and standing, with particular attention to balance and reflexes, so we have a better chance of avoiding falls as we age. The entire class is geared towards gently restoring the body’s suppleness and longevity. It’s a non-judgmental, supportive atmosphere, and everyone moves at their own capacity; no special clothing or equipment is required.

Gus U remarked, “That was the first time I’ve ever been to a moving around class. I loved it. It’s not only good for Joyce’s Parkinson’s Disease, it’s good for me too. I walk the gravel pit daily… My walk had more of a get up and go this morning. Looking forward to next Monday already.”

Continue Reading

We hear from Amanda Smith at The Studio that fall fitness classes start soon…

Fitness Class at The Studio – Contributed Photo

The Studio and Island Rec partnered up almost 1 year ago to offer an Adult Fitness class for the community. The 20/20/20 class at The Studio has been taught by co-owner and instructor Jacquelyn Reiff, and combines 20 minutes of a low impact cardio workout, strength training, balance work along with Pilates and flexibility making for a full body workout that is fun and energizing.

Fitness Class – Contributed Photo

Due to the popularity and increased demand for the class, The Studio in partnership with Island Rec will be offering an additional class this fall allowing for more people to participate. The Monday/Wednesday 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m. class will be available and, in addition, a NEW Tuesday/Thursday 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. class will be available for registration. Each session lasts 2 months and the cost is around $60.

With the additional class offering, The Studio is excited to introduce Anna Maria de Freitas, a group fitness instructor that has joined The Studio team. Anna Maria will be teaching the 20/20/20 along with Jacquelyn. Anna Maria brings over 10 plus years of experience in the fitness industry. The past 10 years she has taught fitness classes at Skagit Valley College and is currently working on completing her BASI Pilates certification.

If interested in registration please contact Island Rec. or register at www.islandrec.org. Registration opens September 1 for the fall. This class has been so popular and generally has a wait list so make sure you register as soon as the session opens up to guarantee your spot. The class is available to 20 participants. Read what some of our clients have to say about the class. Continue Reading

San Juan Community Theatre presents Damaris Webb on Friday followed by her two-day workshop this weekend…

Damaris Webb – Contributed Photo

Portland’s Damaris Webb brings her solo theater piece, The Box Marked Black: Tales from a Halfrican American Growing Up Mulatto, With Sock Puppets! to the Gubelman THIS Friday, August 26 at 7:30 pm.  It traces the experience of growing up mulatto in the pre-Huxtable era and follows a narrative from the perspective of both sides of her interracial family, embodying multiple characters, childhood memories (including a “Roots” re-enactment using sock puppets) and fantasy.

Damaris, who recently moved to Portland after 26 years making and producing work in New York City, will then lead a two-day workshop on solo compositions THIS Saturday and Sunday, August 27-28 from 10 am to 1 pm.  Actors, directors and writers are encouraged to attend to  will explore techniques for making on-the-spot, repeatable performance offerings based on autobiographical inquiry.  To register for the workshop ($60 for the two days), visit or call the box office at 378-3210; box office hours are Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 am to 4 pm and Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm.

Damaris Webb – Contributed Photo

Bill and Rita Ament of Dance Happy will be offering free demonstration classes on Saturday, August 27th starting at 3:00 pm at Dance Workshop 2. Here’s the schedule…

Tamara Weaver photo

CREATIVE (Ages 2.5-4), 3:00-3:20pm    Creative & Pre-Ballet

L’IL STARZ (Ages 4-5), 3:30-3:50pm    Tap, Pre-Ballet, Jazz

BIG STARZ (Ages 6-8), 4:00-4:20pm    Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop & Lyrical

SUPER STARZ (Ages 8-14), 4:30-4:50pm  Hip Hop, Jazz, Lyrical

Bill & Rita Ament are looking forward to sharing the Magic of Dance with all of you!