Tiny is this week’s Pet of the Week – Contributed photo

Take it from me; Botox is extremely over rated. It’s what’s inside that counts. My name is Tiny and although I’m small on the outside, inside I’ve got an enormous personality and a warm, affectionate heart. I’m a mature girl who loves life and loves to cuddle! I’m very romantic and give excellent kisses. I need someone special to spend the rest of my life with. Preferably someone who likes “giant” dogs like me!

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

Island Rec – Children’s Festival 2016 Theme & Poster Contest

Mark your calendars, folks! San Juan Island’s 26th Annual Children’s Festival is happening Saturday, May 7th, 2016! We are pleased to announce…

Nature’s Wonderland

Last year’s First Place winner, Emily Fitts – Contributed photo

Island Rec needs your help to design the poster for this year’s Children’s Festival! Kids of all ages are invited to submit poster designs that incorporate this year’s festival theme:

Artworks must be submitted on an official entry form, which can be obtained at Island Rec’s office or at the Elementary School. Poster designs must be returned to Island Rec, 580 Guard Street, by 5pm Friday, March 21st, 2016 to be considered by our contest judges. In addition to the honor and title of “Official Poster Designer”, there will be 1 first prize and 3 runner up prizes given for the committees top choices in poster design. Enter for a chance to win!

This year we have selected a committee that’s been working hard to make our festival come alive: Kim Fitts, Heather Clark, Megan Yelle, Maddie Ovenell and Morgan Johnston. Inquiries and activity ideas should be directed to Morgan Johnston, morgan [@] islandrec.org.

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

On Book Comedy Tuesday & Wednesday

Fourteen of our island actresses get together at San Juan Community Theatre this Tuesday and Wednesday, March 1 & 2 at 7:30 pm to read Jane Martin’s compelling comedy, Vital Signs.

The On Book Readers Theatre presentation directed by Fiona Small features a collage of monologues about woman in all her warmth and majesty, her fear and frustration, her joy and sadness.

Featured readers over the two nights are Georgia Smith, Deb Langhans, Carrie Jewett, Madelyn Busse, Tori Zehner, Amy Hull, Lynda Guernsey, Essine Kilpatrick-Boe, Candace Gossen, Sunny Wu, Susan Williams, Julie Laidlaw, Macalister Arendt and Fiona Small.

Doors open at 6:30 pm in the Gubelman Theatre; ADMISSION IS FREE!

May is History Lives Here month – Click to enlarge

Sandy Strehlou from the Town of Friday Historic Preservation Board shares this announcement…

Hello Everyone:

Every May we celebrate local history on each of the ferry-served islands. If you or your organization or business would like to participate, now is the time to get on the calendar and start organizing. The San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau does a great job of promoting History Lives Here, but we need to get them our event information A.S.A.P.

The Town of Friday Harbor creates a month-long calendar at www.historicfridayharbor.org, and the local media is great about getting the word out.

But first things first.

Take a look at the calendar above. It is the beginning of the SJI event calendar. If you are on another island, go ahead and add an event and send it back to both me (Sandy Strehlou) and the Visitors Bureau via the email addresses below. If you do add an event, please also send all of the details necessary to promote it as soon as possible, including: Continue Reading

Easter Island – Contributed photo

Local Island resident Captain Lynn Danaher is coordinating a very special trip and expedition to Easter Island May 1 – 11 2016.

All the significant archaeological sites will be explored in depth as well as several lesser sites that most visitors to Easter Island never get to visit. Field work will be performed relative to the numerous petroglyphs illustrating constellations at some of the most significant archaeological sites.

Our host and guide Edmundo Edwards has spent 45 years on Easter Island researching it’s history and archaeology. Also his daughter Alexandra Edwards will accompany us and share her perspective and vast knowledge of the area.

This is a very rare opportunity to explore Easter Island with some of the world’s leading experts. Please contact Lynn if you have any interest in joining -participation is very limited. All funds over & above the costs associated with this very special opportunity are contributed to the cost of organizing the Friday Harbor Film Festival, November 4-5-6, 2016.

For more information please contact:
Capt. Lynn Danaher, FN’05
President, Pacific Islands Research Institute
Director, Friday Harbor Film Festival
PO Box 2627
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
office; 360-378-6692
cell; 360-472-1050
4islandexplorer [@] gmail.com

St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza and Hawaiian Getaway Tickets on Sale Now!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 12 when Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor holds its 18th annual, ever popular, St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza at the San Juan Island Yacht Club. Tickets are on sale now at Spa d Bune and The Toy Box for the $40.00 dinner auction, as well as raffle tickets you will not want to miss!

Once again, Soroptimists have created a Hawaiian Getaway raffle, featuring an oceanfront condo located on the beautiful garden island of Kauai. The resort is called Kapa’a Sands, Coconut Coast of Kaua’i. You can visit their website at www.kapaasands.com. Just look at what is included:

• 7 nights’ stay at an oceanfront, ground floor condo
• Dinner for 2 at Monico’s Taqueria, known for its fish tacos and burritos
• Luau and pageant for 2 at Smith Family Garden Luau (famous on the island!)
• Secret Falls kayak/ hike tour for 2 on the Wailua River from Ali`i Kayaks
• Tour of the tropical Allerton Garden for 2
• Backcountry Zipline Adventure for 2 from Kaua`i Backcountry Adventures

Total package value is $1,800+ and with only 100 raffle tickets available for just $50 each, your chances of winning are fantastic!

Extravaganza festivities begin at 5 p.m. on March 12, Continue Reading

J-55 with family – NOAA photo

Sad news from the Center for Whale Research…

“After an extended encounter with all members of J-pod on February 25, 2016, Center for Whale Research reluctantly announces that the newest member, designated J55, is missing and presumed dead,” said senior scientist Kenneth Balcomb.

J55 was first documented by NOAA Fisheries killer whale researchers on January 18, 2016, in Puget Sound. While exact maternity was never established, the calf was documented swimming in close proximity to both J14 (estimated to be 42 years old) and her daughter J37, a 15 year old mother of one (J49 born in 2012). It is also possible that J55 was the first offspring of J40, a 12 year old, and the youngest daughter of J14.

Prior to February 26, members of the federally endangered Southern Resident killer whales were last seen by Center for Whale Research (CWR) affiliates on January 19, 2016 when Mark Malleson encountered some members of J-pod in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and was able to photo-document fourteen of the whales (including members of the J14 matriline) despite the fact that the pod was widely dispersed across the strait and in less than optimal sea conditions.

“While J55 was not photographed on that day, it is the Center for Whale Research’s policy to wait to announce the loss of an individual whale until a thorough survey of the entire pod can be undertaken, yesterday provided that opportunity,” said CWR Research Director, Dr. Deborah Giles.

“Although the loss of any calf is a blow to the Southern Resident killer whales and a setback to the struggling population, it is not entirely surprising that one of the ‘baby boom’ calves did not survive its first few months; as many as 50% of newborn calves do not survive their first year. Nevertheless, the loss of this calf underscores the need to recover the whales’ primary prey base – Chinook salmon – if the Southern Resident population of whales is to survive and thrive,” said Giles.

For More Information: see our website: whaleresearch.com

Crowdfunding is an exciting way for entrepreneurs to ask for monetary pledges from individuals using online services like Kickstarter. Learn how to procure money for your business through crowdfunding during an informative workshop offered by the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) on Thursday, March 17th from 9:30-11:30am at the Orcas Island Public Library.

Crowdfunding has significantly expanded the way that small U.S. companies can raise growth funds, launch new products and find new customers. But the legal and disclosure requirements for seeking crowdfunding, the type of liability and the crowdfunding platforms can be difficult to navigate for small businesses.

The presentation led by EDC director and marketer Victoria Compton, will cover crowdfunding law, how much money companies can raise (and where they can raise it), and how to set up a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. Continue Reading

Cat in Box – Contributed photo

Everyone is welcome – enjoy participating in bringing your art to the library! The subject is the animals and pets we live with here on San Juan Island.

Please bring your ready-to-hang art to the SJI Public Library on Saturday, April 2, between 10:00 am and noon.

Questions? 370-5814

Students: Can you create a 3-minute short film in 24 hours? Bring your phones, tablets & cameras and get creative!

Saturday & Sunday, March 5 & 6, 2016 at the STEM Center at Friday Harbor High School
11:00 AM on Saturday, and Noon on Sunday

Click the poster above for more information.

Bring your talents to the Rumor Mill on Wednesday, March 2nd. Open mic night will be available to all the secret stars out there.

Bring your friends, have a drink or dinner, and sing your heart out.

Everyone is welcome. Open mic will begin at 6:30. For more information, call 378-5555.

The Friday Harbor High School Winter Sports awards will be held at 7:00 pm in the Turnbull Gym on March 10th.

This event was previously scheduled for March 8th.

Come support your children, neighbors, friends, or family. All of these young athletes worked incredibly hard this season and we could not be more proud of their achievements.

Dr. Seuss Storytime Cake – Contributed photo

Celebrate Read Across America with a Dr. Seuss Birthday Party at San Juan Island Library on Thursday, March 3

The Dr. Seuss Birthday Party will begin at 3:15 PM in the Library’s main salon area. The free event is to celebrate the national literacy and awareness initiative, Read Across America.

In addition to a special guest and a reading of a favorite Dr. Seuss book, there will be cake, refreshments, children’s activities and book giveaways. All are welcome.

The Dr. Seuss Birthday Party is sponsored by the San Juan Island Library and the San Juan Island Family Resource Center. For more information, please contact the Library at 378-2798 or visit www.sjlib.org.

Rosa Blair – Contributed photo

Rosa Blair is back on the island and she wants you to know about the new counseling services she is offering. Here she is with the scoop…

Rosa Blair, a San Juan Island native, has returned to serve her community as a licensed counselor and in private practice. You may know her as a landscaper, fruit tree arborist, artist, teacher, or manager of the SJI Farmers Market. Transitioning from these community roles to that of holistic counselor and healer has been a long path. “With a 37 year history on San Juan Island, I am intimately familiar with the nuanced personality, strengths, and challenges of island life. I want our community to be strong, healthy, and empowered, on an individual and collective level”.

She earned a BA in Spanish from Reed College, and a MS in Counseling from Prescott College. Her clinical training was completed in Santa Fe, NM. There she worked at Zephyrus, the SW region’s only outpatient clinic dedicated to the holistic treatment and prevention of eating disorders, and oversaw the art therapy program. She then worked under the guidance of a phenomenal counselor and healer of Lakota descent who specializes in abuse, addiction, gender, couple/family, and indigenous issues.

Rosa trained and worked at Gerard’s House, a grief center dedicated to supporting children and families who have lost loved ones, and became a certified Grief Facilitator. Inspired by her work at Gerard’s House, she studied with the Grief Recovery Institute and became a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. Continue Reading

Charlie Carver, Speaker, from Orcas Island
Nationally Reknowned Authority of Iris – their history, propagation, preservation, and all else

Iris with Water Droplets – Click to enlarge – Tim Dustrude photo

Iris love San Juan Island gardens! Here’s a plant that grows in many sizes, shapes, colors, blooming times and adapts happily to island garden conditions, soils and climate (sort of deer proof, too). Charlie Carver from Orcas, highly regarded as the “iris guy”, will be presenting the program at the March 1 San Juan Island Garden Club meeting.

Charlie will cover basic growing information, will show inspiring photos, have hands-on iris specimens and will have iris rhizomes, and plants, as well as day lillies and companion plants for exhibit to put into the garden now.

Please join us for tea, coffee, dessert and a wonderful program. Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the Mullis Community Center (589 Nash Street, Friday Harbor).

RSVP to Marguerite Bennett at 378-8524 or just drop in and join the discussion. Visit our website for more information: www.sjigardenclub.weebly.com

At every San Juan Island Garden Club meeting, we enjoy general discussion of gardening issues and gardening experiences of all in attendance. The topics among members and guests usually range from greenhouse gardening, container gardening, to gardening with seasonal crops and cooking with local crops and advisement from veteran Master Gardeners and beyond. All are welcome!

Participants of last year’s Spelling Bee – Ted Strutz photo

The Rotary Club will hold its 11th annual Spelling Bee on Thursday, March 3rd at 3:30 p.m. at the San Juan Community Theatre. Doors open at 3:00 p.m.

This year’s spellers include students from Friday Harbor Elementary School, Friday Harbor Middle School, and Paideia Classical School. All island schools were invited to participate.

The contest is open to 4th through 8th grades. All students will receive a medal in appreciation for their participation. The 1st and 2nd place winners will be awarded cash prizes for the school, class, and the speller.

Carol Linde and Carla Wright will serve as judges, and Dr. Carolyn Haugen will be the pronouncer. Steve Bowman is the emcee and ‘calmer of nerves’.

All are encouraged to attend the event and support our students as they demonstrate the spelling skills and have fun (we hope) being involved in the spirit of competition.