This story submitted by the San Juan Island Farmers Market…

Sandy May thinks of herself as a farmer. However, she does not have all the things you might associate with a farm. She does not have great quantities of rolling pasture land, grain fields or hundreds of farm animals. Instead, she keeps a modest garden just outside the town limits of Friday Harbor. There is a collection of raised beds, some herbs, fruit trees, and a happy flock of chickens clucking in the background.

This may not be your typical farm, but the much loved and well tended piece of land is May’s way of contributing to the San Juan Island Farmers Market, and by extension, the way we think about feeding ourselves. She does this by participating in the San Juan Island Farmers Market Garden Coop.

The Market Garden Coop is a collection of people with small to large gardens who share a booth at the Farmers Market. Each week, the members pool whatever vegetables they have to spare from their gardens. These goods are then sold at the cooperative’s booth every Saturday. The group is both a great way to introduce more fresh produce into the Farmers Market, and involve small scale producers in the market environment. The group feeds the “eat local” mentality simply by promoting the diversity and productivity of small scale growing. Continue Reading

Cady Davies of San Juan Island EMS presents the Honorary EMT for March 2016…

Clayton Banry is the March Honorary EMT of the Month – Contributed photo

Clayton is island grown. He graduated from Friday Harbor High School in 2010, where he was Homecoming King.

He is a locally published playwright. Clayton coached intermural softball and is currently coaching the EMS soccer team.

Clayton is a Support Officer at San Juan Island EMS, helping to improve morale among the ranks. He often volunteers to help out with the new EMT class and has been a mock victim for training purposes for years.

You can often find Clayton at the station on Tuesdays, where he is available for planning or assistance when requested.

We admire Clayton’s positive attitude, enthusiastic manner, and joyful sense of humor.

Mark Islam made balloon animals for the kids last year – Contributed photo

Mark your calendars, folks! San Juan Island’s 26th Annual Children’s Festival is happening Saturday, May 7th, 2016! Island Rec is currently recruiting for local organizations that would like to participate in this special event by hosting an activity that reflects this year’s festival theme:

Nature’s Wonderland

This theme will give a reason for all ages to explore what our natural world has to offer. We’d welcome any activity that fosters the imagination, inspires, & brings a sense of the outdoors to life.

Organizations that would like to be involved are encouraged to contact Island Rec early on and start planning ahead. Inquiries and activity ideas should be directed to Morgan Johnston.

As always, the Children’s Festival will run from 10am-2pm at the Fairgrounds building. For more information, please call 378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org

Happy Oakies from February – Contributed photo

Woo Hoo! Fresh off the press it’s the Oak Team Work Party Schedule – and, along with daylight saving time, Oakies will Spring forward with a work party THIS SUNDAY, March 13th!

• When? Sunday, March 13 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
  RSVP required to: Tanja Williamson, Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator
  tanjaw [@] sjclandbank.org.
• Where? Cady Mountain Preserve
• What? Small conifer removal work –felling, limbing, piling, etc.
  Weeding

Cynthia’s new restaurant on Nichols Street – Contributed photo

Cynthia has an opening for a full time chef at her restaurant on Nichols. Here’s more from Cynthia…

Cynthia’s is located in a renovated home in the town of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Cynthia’s is a new business focusing on healthy innovative food – primarily Brunch but expanding to dinner.

We are also very involved with catering to the many destination events taking place on the island. We are rapidly changing & expanding for the summer tourist trade.

Full time Chef – Job Description:

Breakfast and/or Dinner Chef – locally sourced products when available, innovative menu

Dinner Chef – new aspect of this growing restaurant. We are looking for a highly motivated individual who is creative and passionate about their craft. Continue Reading

The perfect incentive for spring cleaning, supporting Friday Harbor High Seniors and finding bargains galore all at the same time is Saturday, March 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the high school commons.

Hundreds of gently used items (from clothes to furniture to gadgets) and yummy treats will be available at the Grad Night 2016 Spring Rummage and Bake Sale. Funds raised will be used to help create an exciting night of safe and sane fun for the high school’s senior class in June.

Islanders interested in donating items for the sale may drop them off at the HS Commons on Friday, March 18 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. or contact Jeanette Longan at 370-5361.

Friday Harbor Film Festival’s Winter Tuesday Series presents: Dogs On The Inside, an Audience Choice Award winning film.

This film follows the relationships between neglected and abused dogs and Massachusetts prison inmates as they work together toward a second chance at a better life; a forever home for the dogs and a positive life outside prison for the inmates.

An uplifting film for all. More info and a preview at this link.

7:00 pm, March 15th at the Grange. Donations appreciated.

Mike MacLellan 2015 Firefighter of the Year – Contributed photo

The San Juan Island Fire Department recently held its annual awards ceremony. The banquet, held on the UW Labs campus was presented by the Department and the San Juan Island Firefighters’ Association (which is supported by the Friday Harbor Firefighters’ Thrift House).

This year’s honorees were:

Firefighter of the Year – Mike MacLellan who has been an active member of the department since 2010. He responds reliably, trains regularly, and always helps with public education and community events.

Officer of the Year – Kurt Long who manages training and operation of the fire boat Sentinel, and serves as Station Officer at the Brown Island station.

Rookie of the Year – Nicolas Wainwright who responded to more calls than anyone else in the organization and helps with the recruit class and ongoing training.

Driver Operator of the Year – John Miller who is a dedicated responder and active in the Driver Operator Program.

Support Volunteer of the Year – Peggy Long who serves as a wildland firefighter and member of the Logistics team, frequently coordinating food service operations for training events and fire responses.

Congratulations to the Best of the Best!!

**San Juan Island Fire & Rescue welcomes all interested men and women ages 16 years and above to drop by the Mullis Street Station and make an appointment to see what we are all about. We offer some fun ancillary positions. Look on line at www.sjifire.org for lots of good information. Or you could view our Face book page: San Juan Island Fire & Rescue. Our phone # is (360) 378-5334. We would be pleased to talk with you.

The Friday Harbor Middle School Players’ production takes on a silly tone with the parody, Dean O’Carroll’s Sally Cotter and the Censored Stone.

After reading about a famous boy wizard, Sally dreams that she is a student at Frogbull Academy of Sorcery and meets up with characters like Headmaster Albatross Underdrawers, Gamekeeper Ruebenon Ryebread, Professor Shiftia Shape, friends Dave and Harmonica and the evil Lord Murderdeath.

While hilarious and fun for the young actors and their audiences, Director Jenni Merritt says the parody holds a subtle reminder of how one fantastical book can transform a generation.

Sally Cotter will be presented in the Whittier Theatre on:

Friday, March 18 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 19 7:00 pm
Sunday, March 20 2:00 pm

All tickets $11
Student RUSH at door $5
Buy on-line here or call 378-3210

Business partner: PRINTONYX

San Juan Island Blood Drive will be held at the Mullis Community Senior Center on Wednesday, March 16th. Walk-ins are more than welcome. Donor with appointments will have priority at registration. You can also be a platelet donor!

Please bring Photo ID!

For more information or to set an appointment, contact Curt Van Hyning at 317-8399.

Sponsored by the San Juan Island Lions Club

Saint David’s Day School is now accepting registrations for the 2016-2017 school year. Saint David’s is a 4-hour preschool for children ages 3-5.

Our morning preschool offers social and academic exploration for early learners with a curriculum that provides a comfortable environment where children are able to explore, create, and grow through a “hands-on” approach to learning. Our staff consists of two certified teachers and one aide.

Registrations are available at the school located at 780 Park Street, between 8-1, Monday through Thursday.

Interested parents are welcome to stop in and observe our program in action!

For more information contact Margaret Barker, at 298-4161 or by email at sddayschool [@] gmail.com.

On Wednesday, March 9th, Friday Harbor High School will commemorate Honor Roll students from June 2015 – January 2016.

The event begins at 9:15

Results of a fire in electrical panel on M/V Yakima – WSF photo – Click to enlarge

Here’s the word from Washington State Ferries on this morning’s fire on the Yakima…

This morning at 10:25 a.m., while tied up at Friday Harbor’s main slip, deck crews reported smoke coming from a vent on the Yakima’s car deck.  The engine crew investigated immediately and discovered a fire in the machine shop, near the control room, and immediately extinguished it.  The fire was found to be electrical and the cause is under investigation.  The fire was contained to a 2’x4’x6′ electrical panel (see attached picture).

The crew reacted quickly and there were no injuries from the fire.  The Yakima had just begun loading at the time the smoke was reported, with only a few passengers on board.  Although the fire was out within minutes, deck crews disembarked the few passengers on board and we suspended operation of the Yakima.

The US Coast Guard was promptly notified and the 10:30 a.m. sailing from Friday Harbor to Anacortes, cancelled.  To minimize service impacts, we will be using the Chelan (at this time of year only used in the morning), on the Yakima’s afternoon sailings, until further notice.

The tug Garth Foss prepares to tow the Yakima away – Tim Dustrude photo

The ferry M/V Yakima was hooked up to a Foss Tug, the Garth Foss and towed away to Eagle Harbor this afternoon.

Garth Foss and M/V Yakima – Tim Dustrude photo

And away they go… – Tim Dustrude photo

Smoke fills the car deck on the M/V Yakima, Tuesday morning, March 8th. Normally you would see clearly right out the other end of the vessel – Contributed photo

The Washington State Ferry M/V Yakima is out of service today after a fire apparently broke out in the engine room while at dock in Friday Harbor this morning. According to bystanders who overheard what was going on, “the No. 1 Engine shut down and then smoke began billowing out”.

The San Juan Island Fire Department was called and was on scene within approximately 5 minutes. “they had their hoses out but the engine room crew was able to extinguish the fire themselves.”

Ferry service in Friday Harbor will remain disrupted today until a tug boat which now is en route can tow the stricken Yakima out of the slip. It will be taken to Eagle Harbor, the WSF’s vessel maintenance facility.

In the meantime, the M/V Chelan used the auxilliary slip in Friday Harbor to allow foot passengers and bicycles on and off.

Annie Howell Adams and Peg LeBlanc show paintings from Provence.

Annie and Peg spent time in the Luberon district of France and have a fine Plein Aire collection to share.

Nichols Street Suites (above Funk and Junk) Today, Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.