• Golden Triangle is short staffed, so they’re only open for lunch until Friday of this week.
• Friday Harbor Labs’ first open house since 2019 was a great success, with more than 400 members of the community taking part in the event.
• The San Juan Islands Museum of Art is holding a step-by-step painting class on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. All supplies will be provided. Pre-registration is required, and the deadline is tomorrow at 5 p.m.
• The library welcomes kids from kindergarten through grade five for open craft time on Wednesday from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
• Spring Street International School’s annual middle school history play, Bound for Glory, is an original musical comic-drama. See it at one of five performances being held at the San Juan Community Theatre between June 8 and 11. It’s pay-what-you-can at the door.
• Aloha Friday has updated their menu.

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Last Tuesday the San Juan County Council approved a resolution that allows the County’s Conservation Land Bank to proceed with the $800,000 purchase of a 40-acre property adjacent to the Land Bank’s existing Cady Mountain Preserve.

A staff report to the County Council explains that the property had been a Land Bank conservation priority for years.

“It adjoins the Land Bank’s existing Cady Mountain Preserve and hosts a portion of the summit of the mountain,” the report says. “It has rare Garry oak and rocky bald ecological communities. With forthcoming ability for the public to access the Preserve from Three Corner Lake Road, this property will likely become a natural destination for hikers. There are stellar views of Turtleback and south across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Olympic Mountains.”

The property was listed for sale several years ago for $2 million, but did not sell. Last summer the owners decided that they wanted to sell the property to the Land Bank instead, and were willing to provide owner financing.

The Land Bank will pay $200,000 when the purchase closes, with the remaining $600,000 payable over four years.

• Friday Harbor High School baseball fell to Kalama High School 9-0 on Saturday in the opening round of the 2B state tournament held in Brewster, ending the Wolverines’ season.
• Mama Bird Farm’s spring mix is being harvested this morning and will arrive in all three grocery stores by late afternoon.
• Cecil’s Electronics and Photo is open again.
• Space is still available in the five-day wilderness first responder course being hosted by Spring Street International School August 3-7.
• San Juan Island Fire & Rescue is holding an open house this Saturday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their headquarters on Mullis Street. There will be exhibitions and demonstrations and the Firefighters Association will be providing barbecued hot dogs, chips, and drinks.
• Merri Ann Simonson of Coldwell Banker has written a detailed article that outlines the financial incentives and challenges associated with operating a property as a vacation rental versus a long-term rental on San Juan Island.
• The State of Washington has launched a website that contains information on the progress of implementing each of the 49 recommendations from the Governor’s Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

Photo credit — Mark B. Gardner

Gathering of the Eagles, a week-long canoe journey through the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) homelands, will land in Friday Harbor on Monday to kick off two days of events on San Juan Island.

San Juan is one of six islands that will be visited by the families taking part in the journey, which starts in Anacortes and will also make stops at Lopez Island, Brown Island, Yellow Island, Orcas Island, and Lummi Island.

Unlike the inter-tribal canoe journeys that have passed through the islands in previous years, Gathering of the Eagles is not a tribal-sanctioned event, but rather a potlatch-style gathering coordinated by community leaders and organizers.

“This is grassroots journey organized by Freddie Lane of the Lummi Nation,” says Matt Wickey, who is part of the host committee for San Juan Island and also the Executive Director of the Kaigani Canoe Voyaging Society. “It’s a way to bring tribes back together on the water after COVID canceled larger canoe journeys over the last few years.”

Islanders are invited to attend the canoe landing ceremony, which takes place at 4 p.m. on Monday at the beach just north of Shipyard Cove Marina. The public is welcome to attend the canoe protocol later that evening, where the families taking part in the journey will share stories, songs, and dances with the community starting at 6 p.m. at the Fairgrounds. Continue Reading

The Salal Neighborhood on Carter Avenue used Home Fund dollars to help with roof replacements

Following County Council approval this past Tuesday, $2 million in funding has been made available for affordable rental and homeownership projects throughout San Juan County.

That money will come from the County’s Home Fund, which generates revenue from an excise tax of 0.5 percent on real estate transactions. This is the third year that such funding has been allocated since voters approved the excise tax in November 2018.

Awarded through a competitive application process, Home Fund grants or loans are used to support the acquisition, construction, rehab, or maintenance of residential properties for people with low or moderate incomes, or people with special needs. Both rental and homeownership projects are eligible for funding. Nonprofits, housing authorities, public agencies, and private for-profit affordable housing providers can submit proposals.

Proposed projects must address one of the six housing needs identified by the County’s affordable housing strategic action plan, approved by the County Council in March 2017: Continue Reading

• Friday Harbor High School takes on Kalama High School at 1 p.m. this afternoon at the 2B state baseball tournament in Brewster. If #10-seeded Friday Harbor wins, they’ll play again on Saturday, taking on the winner of the earlier game between #2 Brewster and #15 Warden.
• The San Juan Islands Agriculture Guild, Brickworks, and Tommy Dale & the Dangerfields raised over $1,300 at their fire fund benefit last Sunday.
• The San Juan Island Food Co-op has bok choy, arugula, and cilantro from Sweet Earth Farm on San Juan Island, spinach and cauliflower from New Hannah Farm on San Juan Island, and rhubarb from Blue Moon Produce on Waldron Island.
• San Juan Island Brewing’s XPA is back on draft and in cans.
• The first event in Alchemy Art Center’s Artist Talk series takes place on Sunday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art.
• Liberian-born drummer and vocalist IJenNeh is performing a free concert on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church.
• Island Home Finishes has decided to end their relationship with Sears Hometown. Starting on Friday, May 27, they will hold a liquidation sale to clear out their stock of appliances, barbecues, and mattresses. Existing orders will still be filled, but they’re no longer accepting new orders. IHF is planning to re-open in a new location later this year.

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The Town of Friday Harbor shares an update about the First Street overlay project.

Striping is scheduled for Tuesday, May 24 on First Street from Spring Street up the hill to Court Street, as well as on the West Street parking area from First Street to Overlook Park. The work schedule is weather dependent.

Both lanes of traffic will be closed during the work. No parking will be permitted in the project zone and the Town reserves the right to tow vehicles left in the project zone during construction hours. Sidewalks will remain open, but pedestrians should be aware of their surroundings at all times when walking near or through a construction zone.

As always, drive carefully and thank you in advance for proceeding with caution in areas where Town crews are working in the roadway. Contact Town Hall at 360-378-2810 with questions or concerns.

The San Juan County Department of Emergency Management reports 82 active COVID cases on San Juan Island as of this afternoon, up sharply from the 40 cases reported on the County’s COVID dashboard earlier in the week. Orcas Island has 18 active cases, down from 51 last week. Lopez Island has 10 active cases, down from 22 last week.

“These numbers do not include suspect cases (e.g., positive over-the-counter tests),” the County noted in their media release. “Even though suspect cases are not reportable by State guidelines, they do provide a more complete picture of infection rates in our County. There are almost as many suspect cases that we know about this week as confirmed or probable cases.”

The County also stated that San Juan County currently has the highest case rate in Washington state, with infection rates in the islands almost double those in neighboring counties.

In addition, the County reported the presence of several active outbreaks on San Juan Island. Their investigation of those outbreaks has shown that many known cases spent time in local businesses and volunteer organizations while infectious.

The Chamber sends along news about this year’s Fourth of July parade.

The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the theme for the 2022 Fourth of July Parade in Friday Harbor is United We Stand, saluting heroes, helpers, and essential workers.

A full day of food, entertainment, and music will culminate with a glorious fireworks extravaganza over the Port of Friday Harbor. Our parade has had rave reviews for years and we intend to keep that tradition going. We have been rated one of the top ten small town Fourth of July celebrations in the country. The parade will start approximately 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 4.

Our grand marshals will be Lin and Pam Pearson, who ran the parade for 17 years. Our honored citizen will be Vicky Thalacker, who has also been instrumental in serving our community. Through Vicky’s leadership, with help from a local pilot and the local Soroptimist chapter, the San Juan Eagles were organized in 2002 to fly cancer patients to mainland cancer treatment centers on a voluntary basis. Our community is definitely a better place because of Lin, Pam, and Vicky.

The Chamber encourages all of those interested to gather your creative crew and begin plans on your costumes, floats, and themed entries. Prizes will be awarded for the following categories: best use of theme (float), best use of theme (non-float), best use of theme (children/youth), best costume group, best animal or animal group, judges’ choice, best off-island entry, and best vehicle.

To participate in the 2022 parade, email [email protected] for an application, download it on the Chamber of Commerce website, or pick an application up at the Chamber Office at 165 First Street S.

• There are 68 current COVID cases on San Juan Island that have been reported to the County’s Health & Community Services department.
• Today’s your last chance to get bread and pizza and pastries from Bakery San Juan for a little while. They’ll be closed next week, reopening after the holiday weekend on Tuesday, May 31.
• San Juan Community Theatre has cancelled all of this week’s performances of Cinderella, following guidance from the San Juan County Health Department. Refunds will be automatically issued starting in the middle of next week. SJCT will be going ahead with Saturday afternoon’s Metropolitan Opera event and Monday evening’s performance with The Tenors and Jens Lindemann.
• Coho is doing a dim sum and sake dinner tonight.
• Friday Harbor Labs’ open house takes place tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Registration is open for Alchemy Art Center’s summer pottery classes.
• There’s a large garage sale taking place at the Cape San Juan fire station tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• In case you missed it, here are the weekly specials at Market Place and Kings.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

Injured Red Fox kit in the care of Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center — Contributed photo

Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center offers some helpful advice to keep some of our most vulnerable island residents safe this spring.

Red Fox kits have become a great attraction on San Juan Island. This is the time of year when they are first venturing out of the den to take a look at the world. They’re cute and curious so of course people want to get close to watch them and are tempted to offer them food. Whether its local people feeding the kits or visiting photographers trying to get closer for the perfect photo, this close contact with humans is not what’s best for the foxes in the long run.

To have a good chance of surviving in the wild, young foxes have just a few months to learn all the necessary skills from their parents. Among other things, they must learn what to eat and how to catch it, how to avoid cars and predators, including dogs, and to be wary of people. Kits that constantly see, smell and hear people from the moment they poke their noses out of the den are less likely to learn these skills and to survive when they move away from their parent’s territory. Instead of learning how to hunt voles, they are learning to beg for snacks. Instead of being wary of people, they are tempted to hang out near houses or roads where they are more likely to be hit by a car, injured by a dog, or shot for being perceived as a threat to kids, pets or domestic animals.

Please help fox kits stay safe and wild by watching them from a distance and by helping friends and neighbors understand that the best thing we can do for these creatures is leave them in peace to live their wild lives.

The library shares an update about outdoor programming coming to two Friday Harbor parks this spring and summer.

The San Juan Island Library, in partnership with Island Rec, is offering two story walks that will be open to the public Memorial Day through Labor Day.

A story walk is a creative way for people to enjoy literacy and the outdoors at the same time. Laminated pages from picture books are attached to signs that are placed along popular walking paths for children and adults to see and interact with as they explore the outdoor spaces. Suggested activities that go along with the story are featured on each sign to promote healthy movement and exercise.

The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Story walks have been installed in 50 states and more than 13 countries, including Canada, Malaysia, England, and South Korea. San Juan Island Library’s first community story walk installation was in partnership with the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank in October 2021.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Island Rec this year to bring our second story walk project to Friday Harbor,” said Melina Lagios, San Juan Island Library Youth Services Manager. “Linde Park and the Family Park at the Fairgrounds are popular destinations for our local families. Children of all ages, especially preschoolers, love following along with the stories and finding the next sign and activity, which is a fantastic way to help build their early literacy skills while being on the move and physically active.”

At John O. Linde Community Park, enjoy the story of Galápagos Girl/Galapagueña and learn how Valentina helps protect her fragile island’s wildlife and natural beauty. The story is inspired by the real-life childhood of Valentina Cruz and is both educational and inspirational for all ages. The text is presented in English and Spanish.

Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea is the book selection for the story walk at the Family Park at the Fairgrounds. This sing-song rhyming story features different ocean animals and is wonderful for families with toddlers and preschoolers.

Both story walks were made possible through grant funding from the Women’s Fund of the San Juan Island Community Foundation.