Julia Frits Jensen – SJ Historical Society photo

It’s time for this month’s History Column, shared with you from the SJ Historical Society and Museum…

San Juan Island owes much to Julia Frits Jensen (1885-1972). In the photograph on the left, Miss Julia Jane Frits is seen in her 1907 graduation portrait from Bellingham Normal School.

An Orcas Island girl who came to Friday Harbor early in her teaching career, she is known for many things. One is her collection of 50-100 plant specimens collected in 1908 while a student at the Marine Station here. Donated by Julia in 1966, these are the oldest plant specimens in the Friday Harbor Labs collection.

Julia was the sister of longtime Friday Harbor Journal publisher/editor Virgil Frits, the wife of Albert Jensen, and the mother of Nourdine Jensen. She taught two generations of island kids and served as Superintendent of San Juan County Schools.

Words beneath her photograph on the right show the admiration of Friday Harbor High School students, as published in their 1950 annual. Julia was also elected as the first president of the San Juan Historical Society in 1961.

If you have a memory of Mrs. Jensen, please comment here or contact us at the San Juan Historical Society and Museum.

Bryan Leighton and Jesse Berube – Contributed photos

San Juan Community Theatre closes its Night Music series this summer with performances by two island singer/songwriters on Thursday, September 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Jesse Berube calls himself a “crafter of sound, turning heartfelt, easily identifiable experiences and lessons learned into powerful, well crafted, witty and sensual song.” A self-taught musician, he accompanies his vocals with his own handcrafted guitar and ukulele.

Bryan Leighton spent his formative years playing clubs and bars around the region. Influenced by fellow Northwest artists like David Bazan, Benjamin Gibbard and James Mercer, Bryan’s playful and self-reflective lyrics dig deep into life, death and our human pursuits.

The live music starts at 7:30 p.m. in the intimate Gubelman Theatre, with social time in the Steele Memorial Garden (complete with special chocolate desserts, wine and beer available for purchase) starting at 6:30.   Seating is limited; all tickets are $12 each per concert.

The Business Partner for the series is Kings Market. The SJCT Box Office is open Tuesdays-Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and one hour before the performance. Call 360-378-3210, or surf to www.sjctheatre.org.

Doe Bay Resort on Orcas Island is known for its rustic charm, world-class farm-to-table café and its annual music festival, Doe Bay Fest. For the past three years, something else has grown on the resort’s pristine 38-acres: an extraordinary artist/writing workshop. Participating artists range from the broadly published writer finishing a novel to someone looking to bring daily writing and creativity to their days. With an average of 17 states and Canada represented, connections in Write span far and wide.

This Fall, Write brings together a musician, a memoir and fiction writer, an incredible artist and author; a musician and songwriter; a memoir, fiction and essayist; a writer, editor and adventurer.

Nikki McClure is an award winning Olympia based New York Times Best-Selling writer/illustrator of seven children’s books and papercut artist. Seattle-based Kris Orlowski is a widely regarded musician and songwriter. Award-winning LA-based writer Jenny Feldon is the author of the memoir Karma Gone Bad (Sourcebooks) and a widely published essayist. Jonathan Zwickel is the senior editor at Seattle City Arts Magazine, contributor to Spin, MSN Music and the author of “Beastie Boys: A Musical Biography. He recently completed a summit of Mt Rainier to raise over $40,000 for Fred Hutch Cancer Research.

This is the seventh Write Workshop and it will take place October 8-11 at Doe Bay Resort on Orcas Island, WA. Tickets are very limited. For more information about this workshop, visit http://www.writedoebay.com.

Movies in the Park was rained out last weekend but looks like the sun will be shining by Saturday and there are still 4 weeks of Movies to go. For September 5th, we will be showing How to Train Your Dragon.

The movie should begin at about 8:15 pm but come early for fun trivia, prizes, and to claim your spot! FANs sponsors this great family event and also pops free popcorn! Don’t miss out! The September 12th movie will be The Wizard of Oz!

Go to www.islandrec.org or call Island Rec at 378-4953 for more information. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. No alcohol please.

Here’s a heads up from Debbie Sandwith about a change of date for the upcoming Roche Harbor Salmon Derby…

With Respect and consideration for the 2016 Seattle Boat Show (Jan 29th – Feb 6th ) and the 2016 Super Bowl (Feb 7th)

2016 RH Derby Date:

13th Annual Roche Harbor Salmon Derby Classic on Jan 21-23, 2016 ~ Same GREAT derby!! … Nothing changes but the DATE!

Please share with all your fishing partners. Newly updated Derby Entry Form at this link (PDF). Those of you that pre-registered, please let us know if the new date works for you & your team!

As always – Thank you for your support of our RH Derby!

Enjoy a sunset cruise on Griffin Bay and learn some history along the way from Captain Greg Hertel aboard The Bee, a classic Grand Banks trawler yacht.

Captain Greg will delve into the history of Griffin Bay including the J. J. Theodore cannery, Old Argyle, Old Town at American Camp, Fish Creek and back into Friday Harbor past the shipyards and the old “Bug Station,” the original location of the UW Labs.

Duration of cruise is 2 -3 hours and will depart at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 15, from the Port of Friday Harbor. Cost is $69 per person, plus tax. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the San Juan Island Museum of History and Industry. Bring your favorite beverage, learn some local history and enjoy a late summer evening.

To reserve your space call 317-4321 or send an email to
greg [@] fridayharborcruises [.] com. To learn more visit fridayharborcruises.com and also on Facebook.

Khenpo Pema Wangdak comes to Friday Harbor – Contributed photo

Khenpo Pema Wangdak will present a Public Talk at the Friday Harbor Grange on September 18th at 7:00 pm.

The enduring positive effects of peace, loving-kindness, and compassion, and everything else that is good in human nature—its values and ethics, its aspirations and goals—are possible only when combined with the strength of the power of patience. Without that strength, these values, profound and noble though they may be, are often seen to be fragile and frail, and thus are neglected, ignored, and misunderstood even by those who aspire to live by them.

Drawing on the teachings of Buddha, the virtues of patience, in the length and depth of its meaning, will be presented as an indispensable component of and the very key to a successful life, spiritual or mundane, and every meaningful thing we do: at home, at work, in social life, education, health, and all else that is conceivable. Our measure of accomplishment is fundamentally based on a solid foundation of patience.

The talk includes discussion, meditation on the subject of patience, and question-and-answer session.

San Juan Island Fitness invites island children ages 7-18 and their parents for a joyfully fun and free introduction to swim team on Labor Day, Monday, September 7th from 3:00  to 4:30 pm.

Through game and activity stations we will highlight what makes swim team a great experience for kids. Coaches will be on hand to answer questions and information packets will be available for the season that begins in November. We will have snacks, too!

Bring your suit and towel and join us for a wet and wacky good time!
Please RSVP at 378-4449 so we know how many to expect!

Please note that our regularly scheduled family swim will be cancelled that day.

San Juan County will award grants and loans totaling up to $20,000 in 2015 for projects that help make housing available to local residents of very low income.

The Low Income Housing Fund, created by the state legislature in 2002, is funded by a surcharge on documents recorded by the county auditor’s office. Funds may be used for construction, operation or maintenance of projects that serve families or individuals earning less than 50 percent of the area’s median income.

For a family of four, 50 percent of median income in San Juan County is $33,100.

Funding is available to non-profits and developers, either as grants or loans for eligible projects in San Juan County. Funding is not available for individual home purchases, or home remodel or rehabilitation.

The county allocates 5 percent of its low-income housing funds directly to the Town of Friday Harbor and 5 percent into a reserve account as well. The funds are administered by the county Housing Bank Commission.

The deadline to apply for funding is Sept. 30. Please visit the County’s website at: SanJuanCo.com or contact Melanie Rollins, Affordable Housing Coordinator, for application forms or more information; phone (360)370-7526 or email melanier [@] sanjuanco [.] com.

Click to enlarge

San Juan County officials have won funding and identified property to solve a serious parking problem on Orcas Island and potentially make it easier for residents, businesses, and visitors to travel to the Island.

In recent weeks, County Manager Mike Thomas has consulted with the Governor’s office and Washington’s Department of Transportation about using 4.5 acres of state-owned property adjacent to the ferry staging area at Orcas Landing. This, after Councilmember Rick Hughes successfully lobbied the legislature for a $760,000 appropriation to develop a park and ride facility. In addition to parking, anticipated uses for the property include a picnic and overlook area, charging stations for electric vehicles and possibly auto rentals.

“This project will solve a long-festering parking problem for Waldron residents, who need to leave their vehicles on Orcas for long periods of time,” Councilman Hughes said. “It will also make the island more accessible to visitors who will be able to walk onto the ferry in Anacortes and access the many attractions here by renting a smart car or other vehicle at the landing.” Continue Reading

Juvenile Bald Eagle – Contributed photo

Wolf Hollow has three young Bald Eagles in care right now and they will be with us for another couple of months until they are ready to release back into the wild. They are growing kids with large appetites so we are going through lots of meat and fish.

You can help! If you have fish (especially salmon) in your freezer that is still in reasonable shape but has been there just a bit too long, we would be delighted to have it. If you’d like to donate some eagle food, please give us a call 378-5000 or send email to wolfhollow [@] wolfhollowwildlife [.] org so we can work out the easiest way to collect it.

Thank You!

San Juan County, EDC launch San Juan Islands Made branding initiative

San Juan County government and the San Juan County Economic Development Council are pleased to announce the launch of a joint project, the creation of the San Juan Islands Made brand and seal.

The San Juan Islands Made brand was established to help protect the integrity and value of locally manufactured, fished and timbered goods. Products bearing the seal are genuine, San Juan Islands-made premium products. To meet program standards, all products must be produced in San Juan County, Washington.

The San Juan Islands Made program was launched by San Juan County Council and the San Juan County Economic Development Council. The program was designed to help our small manufacturers and fishing and timber companies to market their products, and to assure consumers that goods branded with the seal are genuine San Juan County products.

More information is available at www.sanjuanislandsmade.com.

Animal Shelter to Host Wine Tasting and Art Auction

Get set to enjoy a wonderful evening of wine and art, Friday, September 18 at The Brickworks to benefit the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor. The event takes place from 6:00 to 9:00 pm and will feature four private label wines with custom labels by island artists, Jaime Ellsworth, Nancy Spaulding, Annie Adams and Shannon Borg. The featured wines are by Northwest Totem Cellars and Patterson Cellars of Washington State.

Both silent and live art auctions will offer original and pre-owned works of art donated by generous patrons of the animal shelter and local artists.

Tickets prices are $20 with wine tasting and $12 without. Ticket prices include generous tastes of the four featured wines, a custom APS-FH wine glass and plenty of delicious appetizers and soft drinks.

Additional wine by the glass may be purchased during the evening and all of the wines will be available for purchase by the case or bottle during the event.

Tickets are available at the animal shelter (111 Shelter Road) or Friday Harbor Pet Supplies (50 Malcolm Street) and Friday Harbor Gallery (60 First Street – Behind Herb’s Tavern).

Space is limited so get your tickets while they last!

Katie is this week’s Pet of the Week – Contributed photos

Hi Folks! I’m Katie and I’m the new kid in town! I’m two and half years old and I would like to point out that I’m super cute, in case you hadn’t noticed from my recent photo shoot. Take a look! These are just a few of the adorable faces I make!

Once we get to know each other I’ll show you more. I am quite lady-like and walk very nicely on leash.   I know I would be your favorite hiking buddy, stick chaser, travel companion and all around best friend!

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

As a founder of the Hardy Hikers, a 20 year old  year round womens’ hiking group on Orcas Island, I am extremely pleased to support the purchase and development of Mount Grant into a nature preserve.   It will be a place where folks of all ages can go to enjoy the natural beauty and stunning views.  It feels like you are on the top of the world when you are on the summit!  And it is so accessible!

Twenty years ago I chose to make my home on Orcas Island because of the many hiking options there.  With the addition of Turtleback Mountain, there are even more.  I am now very pleased to see future trail opportunities on San Juan Island and I look forward to spending more time experiencing hiking on this beautiful island.  Hooray for Mount Grant!

Anna Tejada
Eastsound

Tajik Village Group – Contributed photo

Bruce Howe-Gregory shares this note about his upcoming return to Tajikistan for the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, Nov. 1st through 28th…

Last year, at the end of my ACDI / VOCA volunteer assignment to Tajikistan I was asked if I would consider returning in 2015. I have recently agreed to return to Central Asia and the country of Tajikistan this next November to assist 12 different groups of farmers in the Khatlon Province near the city of Qurghon-Teppa in the southwestern part of Tajikistan. My host will be the Shirin Dehkan Farm owned by Ms. Azizmo Makhmadieva and her family in Buston village, A.Jomi District, Khatlan Province.

All of my expenses getting to and from Kyrgyzstan are paid for by VOCA/ACDI. My time in Tajikistan is volunteer time given by me.

The host family in Buston village is a family group of six females and ten males that collectively manage a 3 hectare (7.4 acre) orchard of apples, pears, plums, cherry, apricots, peaches, persimmons and almonds. I will also be working with farmers in 12 other districts of the Khatlon Province throughout my three week stay. There are another 200 indirect beneficiaries in the group, men, women and children.

The work I will be doing is to help the growers in identify and start implementing improvements in their orchard management practices. There is little money for orchard technologies that we in the U.S. take for granted. I will be helping them improve their pruning methods, work on fertility and integrated pest management using mostly organic methods and providing them feedback on how they can take their limited resources and improve their quality of life through their farming and farms.

Here are blog entries and photos posted last January (16 and 23) upon my return:  Continue Reading