Thanks to Jan Murphy at the Animal Shelter for this message…

Susie – Contributed Photo

Look. It’s really very simple. I just require a higher thread count for my sheets than most ordinary cats. Would a monogram be too much to ask for? My name is Suzie. I’m thinking the monogram can be an elegant, but understated “S”. I’m pretty sure we can work out a living arrangement where I will be Queen and you will be…..”not Queen”. Come meet me at the animal shelter. I’m certain I could learn to tolerate you. Bergdorf’s has nice sheets – try them.

Tuesday, August 16th is Entry Day for the San Juan County Fair. All San Juan County residents, including summer residents, are eligible to enter exhibits. This year the Fair Premium Book is available Online. According to the Fair website, “Hosting the San Juan County Premium Book ONLINE we have helped save approximately 31 TREES! 7,753 copies for each county mailbox, 263,602 total pages, 527 reams, 17 reams per tree.”

We’re reminded by the San Juan County Fair to… “be sure to look up your department and download an entry form to bring with you to entry day, Tuesday August 16th, 9 am-6 pm at the Fairgrounds. General Entry tags and Horticultural tags available at your local library and the Fair Office if you prefer to prepare ahead of time. Exhibitors get a discounted entry, and Youth exhibitors (age 5-16) are once again sponsored for a free season pass! Thank you for making the Fair great each and every year, can’t wait to see all the entries!”

The 2016 San Juan County Fair Poster designed by Jill Bliss illustrates this year’s Fair theme, “Barn & Raised in the Islands.”

2016 San Juan County Fair – Jill Bliss artwork

Link to: San Juan County Fair Exhibitor Guide

Link to: San Juan County Fair 

A Reminder from Tanja at the San Juan County Land Bank…

Beaverton Marsh Preserve is Open. Now that haying is finished this seasonally accessible preserve along Roche Harbor Road is open to the public! Join us in celebrating our first full season, Saturday, August 6, 11am to 1pm, sipping a cup of Haymaker’s Punch while you walk the pasture and get acquainted with the preserve.

For more information contact Tanja Williamson at 360-378-4402 or email tanjaw (@) sjclandbank (.) org.

Beaverton Marsh Preserve, San Juan Island: 11am to 1pm

The Mullis Senior Center has two upcoming trips, Tuesday August 9, to Mt. Vernon and Tuesday August 23, to Bellingham. Cost for either trip is now only $10.00. If you want to go you must reserve your space and pay for it ahead of time.

Mullis Center Vans – Peggy Sue McRae Photo

Here’s the scoop from the Senior Signal…

Mainland Medical and Shopping Trips: Try to schedule your necessary, off-island medical appointments on our regular trip days. Generally, the earliest possible scheduled appointment in Mt. Vernon is 10:30 am with departure for the ferry by 2:00 pm. Just give the appointment location and time when you make the reservation at the Senior Office (378-2677). There will be shopping opportunities at a variety of stores. Join the group by parking at the Mullis Center or meet the van in the ferry lines. Your membership dues and the volunteer drivers make the trips affordable. Renew today!

Thanks to Town Clerk Amy Taylor for this Update on Tucker…

Road Construction on Tucker – Peggy Sue McRae Photo

Tucker Avenue Reconstruction Project – Phase 1
Construction Update – Week of August 8^th

Project task(s): The crew will complete preparing the roadway for pavement and will commence paving. Paving is scheduled to last three days starting Tuesday and concluding Thursday.

Street Closure: Tucker Avenue & Guard St Intersection will be closed for an extended period of time on Monday & Tuesday. Estimated intersection closure is expected to be from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM both days.

Tucker Avenue will be closed for extended periods of time throughout the week while the contractor completes final grading and the subcontractor completes paving the road.

Local Access: Expect up to 2 hour delays due to new pavement temperatures, pedestrian access will be maintained at all times but caution is advised due to heavy machinery on-site. Southbound traffic should anticipate up to 20 minute delays when open. Flaggers are on-site.

Detour: Traffic will be rerouted using Harbor Street, in addition to the established detour route. Flaggers will advise drivers when use of Harbor Street is appropriate. Vehicles are asked to help ease congestion by using the detour route.

Additionally, detour routes will be established during Guard Street & Tucker Avenue Intersection closures.

Town Clerk Amy Taylor tells us what to expect this coming week on Wold and San Juan Valley Roads… 

Town of Friday Harbor
Waterline Replacement Project
Construction Update:
Week of August 8^th, 2016

Location(s) of work:

• San Juan County is scheduled to begin chip seal restoration on Monday. They will begin at Wold Rd. and proceed up San Juan County Rd.
• Contractor heading into Town on San Juan Valley Rd. and Spring Street.

Work Days/Hours: Monday – Thursday; Possibly Friday; 7AM-7PM

What to expect:

• As we get close to completing the water main installation; there will be an impact on traffic heading into Town from San Juan Valley Rd.
• There will be several active work areas between the EMS/Hospital to Water Storage Tank on Spring St.
• 20 minute delays will be likely in this area
• Please avoid if possible; however traffic control representatives will be on-site at all times to assist commuters.

Detours: You can bypass our construction by using the following alternative routes to detour in or out of Town.

• Beaverton valley Road
• No. 2 School House Road
• Douglas Road
• Bailer Hill Road

Any questions or concerns please feel free to call (360) 378-0360

Pie – Margaret Bell Photo

Superintendent Kris Brown sends out a request…

There’s no tastier place to be than the Baking Department at the upcoming San Juan County Fair. Superintendent Kris Brown has made it easier to lend a hand (or your tastebuds) by keeping shifts short, the responsibilities to a minimum and putting sign up on-line. Judges are still needed for Tuesday, August 16th as well as volunteers to keep the entries organized and accessible during the four days of the fair. Sign up at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0948aca82ca13-20153.

From our National Historical Parks…

Music in the American Wild – Contributed Photo

San Juan Island National Historical Park is proud to host Music in the American Wild, August 5, during their Pacific Northwest National Park Tour.

Friday, August 5
10:00 am to 12:00 pm – American Camp Parade Grounds
7:30 pm to 9:00 pm – English Camp Barracks

From our National Historical Parks…

Weaving Weekend – Contributed Photo

Are you interested in learning how raw wool becomes a sweater or blanket? Join us Saturday and Sunday for Weaving Weekend!

Join San Juan Island National Historical Park for a weekend of spinning and weaving! Cowlitz tribe member Judy Bridges and her husband Bill will demonstrate cattail basket weaving throughout the weekend, while Karen and Patrick Haas will explain and demonstrate small frame weaving. Kimberly Rose and Heather Kinney will explain and demonstrate traditional spinning methods. On Sunday, enjoy the talents of the San Juan Textile Guild as they move from raw wool to finished project in one day.

Saturday, August 6
9 am – 5 pm English Camp Barracks

Sunday, August 7
9 am – 5 pm English Camp Barracks

Public Meetings from August 9 -11 will be hosted by the office of Washington State Ferries.  The purpose of the meetings are to discuss topics of interest regarding the Washington State Ferry system with WSF Assistant Secretary Lynne Griffith. Griffith will speak to attendees on current topics of interest regarding the Washington State ferry system. The public will have opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback at the meetings.

Orcas Island, Orcas Island Senior Center
62 Henry Rd, Eastsound, WA 98245
Tuesday, August 9, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

San Juan Island, San Juan Island Yacht Club
273 Front St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
Wednesday, August 10, 4 – 6 p.m.

Shaw Island, Shaw Island Community Center
Thursday, August 11, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Lopez Island, Lopez Island Community Center
204 Village Rd, Lopez Island, WA 98261
Thursday, August 11, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

Please visit our website at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries

Please send any comments or suggestions you may have to [email protected]

Meet the artists at a reception Saturday, August 6 from 4 – 7 pm. Refreshments will be served.

Robin & John’s ceramic sculptures marry themes & techniques to tell stories. Using Elizabethan collars, large heads, movable madrona arms, and richly colored glazes, the Gumaelius bring their imagination to life.

Michael paints birds based on reference & studies, placed on mottled, drawn upon, and troweled backgrounds creating a mysterious conversations.

The show will continue August 6 – September 13.

We hear about this fun event from Morgan Johnston at Island Rec…

Island Rec features FREE Movies in Sunken Park on Saturday evenings in July & August beginning at dusk.

Island Rec’s Free Movies in the Park series for 2016 is in full swing. For week two, we are showing How to Train Your Dragon 2! Five years have passed since Hiccup and Toothless united the dragons and Vikings of Berk. During one of their adventures, the pair discover a secret cave that houses hundreds of wild dragons and find themselves at the center of a battle to protect Berk from a power-hungry warrior named Drago. Come early with your blankets and chairs and find your friendly neighbors at this wonderful community event, sun sets at 8:40pm.

The rest of season’s movies that follow will be: August 13 – Finding Nemo – Sunset – 8:30 pm and August 27 – Inside Out – Sunset – 8:00 pm.

Go to www.islandrec.org or call Island Rec at 378-4953 for more information. Free popcorn. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. No alcohol please. Sponsored by FANS – Families and Neighbors support Island Rec.

You can see a list of letters from individuals at the link below. As more letters come in, this list will be updated so be sure to check back.

Click here

Update editor Tim Dustrude is resting at home following all-day surgery at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on July 25 for an anomaly in his carotid artery.

He’s not quite ready to tackle the editorial responsibilities of the San Juan Update, and wants to thank and praise Peggy Sue McRae for jumping in and taking over in his absence, and Ian Byington, the founder of the Update, for his assistance.

Tim and his wife Shannon Dean appreciate hearing from so many friends via email or Facebook, and he looks forward to being back at work — and at play on his mountain bike and on the water.

Nancy DeVaux of Sound Vibrations invites you to enjoy a musical ferry ride this evening Thursday, August 4th…

Walk aboard the inter-island ferry, bring a picnic dinner, and appreciate a free, scenic cruise aboard the Washington State ferry while enjoying the harmonies of two island acapella singing groups this Thursday evening for their annual “Ferry sing”.  The groups, Island Chordsmen Plus and Sound Vibrations, are both directed by Angel Michaels and invite you to come along for the ride.

The ferry departs Friday Harbor at 5:30 pm and goes to Orcas, Shaw and Lopez Islands, then returns the same route, arriving back in Friday Harbor at 8:20pm.

Ferry Sing – Nancy DeVaux Photo