Clever Onez team members: Front Row: Jeff Kendrick, Allison Dragon, Ed Wilson Back row: Craig Jordan, Callie McKay – Contributed photo

On Tuesday, June 6, team Clever Onez clenched the title of Team Trivia Champions for the 2016 season of monthly trivia games at American Legion Post 163.

The other five teams congratulated the new champions who were awarded the coveted “Post 163 Trivia Champion” caps as well as a large batch of homemade brownies for their just desserts.

The next next season of monthly Team Trivia Games will begin after the summer hiatus starting Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 6:00PM in the American Legion Post 163.

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Vote counting equipment testing on Wednesday June 29 at 10:30 a.m.

A “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used in San Juan County is scheduled for June 29th. The test works by tallying the results of a prepared set of ballots to see if the results match the votes cast. The test will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the Elections Office located at 55 Second Street, Suite A, in Friday Harbor.

A representative of the Secretary of State’s Elections Division will be present for the test. The test is performed before every local, state or federal election to ensure that tabulation hardware and software equipment are compliant with Washington State rules and will accurately count the votes.

All interested members of the public are invited to observe. Call the Elections Office at (360) 378-3357 for more information.

Tyler Ryan shares this invitation with you…

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Hi Islanders,

My dear friends and long-time employers, Heather and Benjy, are returning to Friday Harbor to share their incredible talents leading sacred chanting (kirtan). Maybe you heard them the last time they were in town a couple of years ago… or maybe you’re scratching your head, wondering what sacred chanting is!

In a nutshell, this is a concert of call and response singing that uses mantras and sacred sounds mostly from India. It is an auditory experience that feels like a mix between meditation and a world-fusion concert. The music takes the audience on a journey from gentle and soothing to peaks of high-energy percussion that might tempt you into some spontaneous dancing.

Whether you’re adventurous and love to sing with a group or you’re a wallflower who would prefer to stay in the background and simply enjoy the concert, there’s room for you!

I’ve been booking events for Heather and Benjy around the world for the past eight years and it’s a special treat when they come to visit my hometown. This is a wonderful opportunity to listen to musicians of the highest caliber in the intimate setting of our beautiful, local yoga studio.

This event is part of their northwest tour, and a local radio station on Bainbridge Island recently interviewed myself and our host over there.

This is a fun listen if you’d like to know a bit more about kirtan and what you can expect from the evening. Click here to listen! (The only difference for our FH kirtan will be that we’ll have just the core band members here – Heather, Benjy and Sean)

I hope to see you next Thursday. Please help me spread the word to friends and family who might be especially interested in this type of event.

Details below… Continue Reading

Ya gotta go check out the Whale Museum’s new mural – Tim Dustrude photo

Have you seen the new mural on the side of the Whale Museum building yet? It was painted by artist Lindsay Carron with help from her friend Sarah just last week and was completed over the weekend.

Oil paintings by Becky Kilpatrick, Dreaming Season Studio – Aaron Shepard photo

Local photographer Aaron Shepard got some nice photos from last weekend’s San Juan Island Artists Studio Tour and put them up on his blog, An Islander’s Eye. Check it out – he also has photos from this year’s Children’s Festival and the Hill of Thrills Soapbox Derby.

This letter was submitted by the “Vote Yes for SJI EMS 2016” Levy Committee…

In August 2016, voters will be asked to vote on a replacement levy for San Juan Island Emergency Medical Services (SJIEMS). This measure supports SJIEMS – NOT hospital services at Peace Island Medical Center. The current levy expires on December 31, 2016, after which there will be no more funding for SJIEMS, unless voters approve a levy to continue funding this agency.

SJIEMS provides emergency care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Core services include Advanced Life Support (ALS) by paramedics, Basic Life Support (BLS) by community Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and ongoing community education programs that are supported by grants.

The proposed levy of 50 cents per $1000 assessed property value ($100 per year for a $200,000 property) would sustain these key services and begin to fund replacement of aging ambulances and equipment.

Comparing the proposed 50 cent levy to other agencies, taxpayers are currently assessed 49 cents for the San Juan Library, 45 cents for San Juan Island Parks & Recreation and 59 cents for Fire District 3 (a totally separate entity from EMS). Continue Reading

Ribbon Cutting for New Business in Town!

The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Friday Harbor are welcoming My RC Vision to the business community of Friday Harbor and hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, June 10th at 11:00am.

My RC Vision is owned by Debbi Staehlin and Heather Easley, mother and daughter duo, and is located at 135 Spring Street.

My RC Vision specializes in radio-controlled crafts for land, air, and water. This family owned business first opened in 2012, shipping RC units all over the world from their warehouse. Their new store provides them with the perfect location for serving locals and visitors alike. They are open seven days a week, working 9-5. My RC Vision has everything for the novice to the experienced RCist.

“RCing our way through life”, Debbi and Heather. They are having a Grand Opening Giveaway: For every $50 you spend, your name gets entered into a drawing to win a Walkera Glider and DEVO 10 Remote Control (Retail Value $349.95). The drawing for this Giveaway will be held on June 30, 2016.

Top Gun is flyin’ into the Drive-In this Friday, June 10th. Head on up to the Fairgrounds and enjoy this classic 80’s flick. Parking opens at 8:00pm, and the movie starts just after 9:15 pm.

$5/person, or $20 for a family of five. Age 5 and under, FREE!

Rarely seen nacreous clouds over McMurdo Station are only visible when the atmosphere is exceptionally cold and the sun is just below the horizon. A once common sight, the increased temperatures and storms are making them a rare phenomenon even in Antarctica – Alasdair Turner photo

A multimedia presentation by documentary and adventure photographer Alasdair Turner

Alasdair Turner

Join photographer Alasdair Turner for an exploration of Antarctica’s McMurdo Sound Region at BRICKWORKS, June 30, at 7:30 P.M. Tickets are available online, at the museum or at the door. TICKETS: Members $12, Non-members $15, Students $8.

From vast ice to the historic huts left behind by Scott and Shackleton to today’s sprawling base of buildings that make up the US McMurdo Station.

This is a photographic tour of an area unreachable to all but a handful of the world’s population, many of whom return year after year for research. Learn about the fragile ecosystems that make up the southernmost part of the Ross Sea and the science that is being done to understand them, while enjoying this provoking and stark photographic experience. Gain an insight into the changes taking place due to climate change and why sea ice in the area is actually increasing.

Alasdair Turner is a Seattle-based adventure and documentary photographer who has worked for the US Antarctic Program for the last four seasons. In his field safety role he has traveled to many remote areas of McMurdo Sound with geologists, biologists, and astrophysicists. His work tells the story of scientific research in Antarctica through a lens imbued with stunning photographic imagery, big picture explanations, and even a little humor.

For more information go to http://www.sjima.org

Learning to Sail – Contributed photo

On the hunt for a sailing instructor…

Island Rec is still on the lookout for a head sailing instructor…. With classes beginning July 5th, we are starting to feel the pinch.

Our sailing classes, which take place at Percich Pond and Jackson Beach, have been happening in partnership with the San Juan Island Sailing Foundation for 25 years. In that time over 1500 kids have participated in the program. This year we have 50 kids enrolled with room for 35 more.

Living on an island provides a unique opportunity for sailing that most other places would not have. So please, if you know anyone or if you are someone with sailing experience, consider applying to be the head sailing instructor at Island Rec. Help us keep this program moving forward for the next 25 years.

You must be 18 years or older, and the commitment runs from June 27 – August 12th. If you are interested, please contact Morgan Johnston.
Morgan [@] islandrec.org or 378-4953

Orcas pass by Lime Kiln Lighthouse – Jenny Atkinson photo

Orca Sing 2016, June 25 at Lime Kiln Point State Park, 7 p.m.

Orca Sing is an annual event where people gather for an evening of music at Lime Kiln Point State Park to honor the Southern Resident orcas. This year’s event is the 17th annual and will take place on Saturday, June 25, beginning at 7 p.m.

This year, Seattle’s City Cantabile Choir will perform. We will also celebrate Washington State Parks and Orca Awareness Month. While there is no guarantee, we hope that the orcas will grace us with a pass-by. The event is free and open to the public.

Participants are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy the beauty of Lime Kiln.  Tours of the historic lighthouse will be offered before and after the concert. A Discovery Pass is required for parking at the State Park and can be purchased through the Lime Kiln Point State Park Interpretive Center. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited. Round-trip transportation is also available through San Juan Transit for $10 a person (pick up is at 5:30 at The Whale Museum with an 8:30 departure from Lime Kiln).

This year’s event partners include Lime Kiln Point State Park, F.O.L.K.S. (Friends of Lime Kiln Society), City Cantabile Choir, Friends of the San Juans, Orca Network, Vashon Hydrophone Project, and The Whale Museum.

For more information, contact The Whale Museum at 360-378-4710 ext. 30 or Friends of the San Juans at 360-378-2319.

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There’s gonna be a Meet & Greet Open House to welcome new WSU Extension Director, Dr. Brook Brouwer, next Tuesday at Brickworks from Noon to 2pm.

Roche Harbor Trails – Photo courtesy of Mike and Sue Buettell

Press Release – Tuesday, June 7, 2016

The Trails Committee of the San Juan Island Park and Recreation District is pleased to announce that the Roche Harbor Resort Trails are now designated the honor of being a National Recreation Trail. On June 3rd, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and National Park Director Jonathon B. Jarvis announced that the Roche Harbor Trails were one of six trails nationally to join the National Trail System.

Roche Harbor Trails – Photo courtesy of Mike and Sue Buettell

This designation is especially significant in that the Roche Harbor Trails are open to the public for a variety of recreation opportunities on land owned privately. The combination of public access and private ownership is enhanced by volunteer stewardship from local residents who improve and maintain the trails. It is a rare model of cooperation and partnership that has grown for many years. With direct connections to trails at English Camp, the Roche Harbor Trails link to additional National Historic Park land for public use.

By this award the Trails Committee of the SJ Island Park and Recreation District thanks the owners of Roche Harbor Resort as well as the National Park Service for recognizing the value of these trails for public enjoyment. The beauty and history of San Juan Island is emphasized by the hundreds of acres of Roche Harbor land with ponds, marshes, forests and meadows crisscrossed by a network of pathways open for horses, bicyclists and walkers. With several parking areas and access trailheads, the Roche Harbor Trails are now nationally recognized for the community asset they have become.

Roche Harbor Trails – Photo courtesy of Mike and Sue Buettell

Maps and information about the Roche Harbor Trails are available at http://www.rocheharbor.com or http://sanjuanislandtrails.org

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Here’s more U.S. Department of the Interior: Continue Reading

This is happening tonight at the high school. Community Dinner. Student Community Project Presentations. Jazz Band Performance. STEM Center Demo and Art Walkabout. Come and see what the students have been up to and enjoy some good food and music at the same time.

On the menu:

• House-smoked Pulled Pork
• BBQ Chicken Legs
• Slow-cooked Baked Beans
• Classic Cole Slaw
• Caesar Salad
• Strawberry Shortcake prepared by the Baking Class

At the High School Courtyard – 5:00 to 7:30 pm, Wednesday June 8th.

Suggested per-plate donation: $12.00 for adults or $6.00 for children under 12. This supports the Food for Thought.

Tumbleweed People in No Man’s Land – contributed photo

Here’s one more photo from Spring Street School’s production of Tumbleweed People in No-Man’s Land, playing at San Juan Community Theatre, tonight and tomorrow night at 6:00 pm. “Come and support some of the hardest working kids you’ll ever see, on or off island.”

Ceiling Wiring at Downrigger’s – Click to enlarge – Aaron Shepard photo

Ever wonder how that power gets to all those outlets in the ceiling of your favorite restaurant or bar? SJ Update roving photographer Aaron Shepard reveals all with this photo he shot last Thursday of the continuing construction on the new Downrigger’s building at Spring Street Landing.