Lanie Browne – Contributed photo

Poet Laynie Browne will share her latest work at the Library, while she is staying at the UW labs this summer.

She embarked this year on an international reading tour, including appearances in NYC, Boston, Providence, LA, Paris, Cambridge, London, and at the UA Poetry Center/Tucson in September 2015 to promote her book Scorpyn Odes.

It is a collection in which odes, ecopoetics, incantation, natural and literary histories collide.

San Juan Island Library, free.
Wednesday, July 29, at 7:00 pm
Light refreshments will be served.

Cap’n Arrr Pirate Show – Contributed photo

Cap’n Arrr is a comedy show that includes lots of surprises and “how to be a pirate” instructions that will have kids (and grown-ups) laughing. Kids are welcome to wear pirate or superhero costumes for this final party in celebration of the 2015 Summer Reading Program “Every Hero Has a Story.” Drinks and treats to follow the show.

Cap’n Arrr will perform as part of the San Juan Island Library’s 2015 Summer Reading Program, Wednesday, July 29 at 1:30 pm at Friday Harbor Elementary School

Please bring blankets and lawn chairs. The show begins at 1:30 pm and runs for 45 minutes. Please call 378-2798 for more information. All Summer Reading Program performances are free and open to the public.

First arthroscopy performed this week at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash., July 24, 2015 – Orthopedic surgeon Jeffrey Krusniak, MD, on Monday performed arthroscopic surgery to repair a patient’s rotator cuff, the first surgery of its kind performed at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor.

An anesthesiologist from PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center flew from Bellingham Monday morning to administer the anesthesia and monitor the patient throughout surgery.

Arthroscopy involves making a small incision through which a pencil-sized scope and specially designed instruments are inserted. The scope is attached to a camera, allowing the surgeon to view the joint area on a screen without needing to make the kind of larger incision associated with “open” surgery. The procedure does not require hospitalization, and patients typically have an easier recovery than they may have with open surgery.

General surgery has been available at PeaceHealth Peace Island since December 2014 and orthopedic surgery since April of this year.

“We’ve had great outcomes with our surgeries,” says Karla Veum, RN, perioperative manager. “People are happy and appreciate the convenience of having surgery close to home.”

Diane Martindale shares this heads-up with you…

Library art show on August 29 from 10-noon at the San Juan Island Library. Through a Looking Glass or Microscope. Bring art of scenes through a looking glass or from the magical world of the microscope to share with the community. All media, all ages and all talents are welcome. Check in ready-to-hang art from 10-noon.

Those with pieces in the On The Road show, please pick up your work at this time. Questions? Call Diane 370-5814

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

Zsa Zsa Gabor

That’s me, Misty above, but I’m often mistaken for Zsa Zsa Gabor. I’m sure you see the resemblance. I’m about five years old and fabulous in every way, dahhling.

I prefer to be the only cat in your world because I’m clearly entitled to all of your attention, but if necessary, I can be persuaded to share my world with other pets.

If you’re looking for a glamour-girl, look no further! I’ll be here at the animal shelter waiting for you. A little caviar would be nice…

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

Chip Seal of Family/Skate Park parking lot

San Juan County Public Works will be completing phase two of the paving project beginning Monday, July 27th at the SJC Fairgrounds Skate & Family Park parking lot.

Please Note:

• The work will require the parks to be closed while construction equipment is in use.
• Auxiliary parking is located along Argyle Avenue during equipment staging and construction.

Thank you for your cooperation and patience during this improvement process.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Allen
Fairgrounds & Events Manager
San Juan County Parks

We posted the news about Lee Taylor leaving, in her own words, just the other day. Now here is the official press release from NPS…

Lee Taylor is Selected as Olympic’s New Deputy Superintendent

Lee Taylor, a 30-year career employee of the National Park Service, has been selected to serve as Olympic National Park’s next Deputy Superintendent. Taylor is currently the Superintendent of San Juan Island National Historical Park, where she has served for the past three years.

Prior to that, she worked for 11 years at Mount Rainier National Park, overseeing the park’s interpretation, education, and volunteer programs. Taylor began her career as a student intern in 1984 at Yosemite National Park and presented or managed interpretation and education programs at seven other parks from Alaska to Virginia before arriving at Mount Rainier in 2001.

“I am very pleased to have Lee join our staff and community. Lee is a proven leader with a strong background in both park operations and the Pacific Northwest,” said Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum.

Olympic National Park was established in 1938 and protects 922,651 acres, nearly 95 percent of which is designated wilderness. Over 200 employees help protect and maintain the park’s resources, and provide services and facilities for over 3 million visitors each year. Taylor will join the park staff in her new position in mid-September.

“Olympic National Park, with its mountains, coastline, old-growth forest and human history, is a spectacular place,” said Taylor. “I am excited to work with the park’s staff and partners to help manage and protect it for future generations.”

Taylor will fill the position formerly held by Todd Suess, who was named Superintendent of Mojave National Preserve earlier this year.

Just heard this about our library…

The EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award honors a public library that demonstrates excellence in service to a community of 10,000 people or fewer. This year’s $1,000 award recognizes the San Juan Island Library in Friday Harbor, Washington, for the impressive quality of its digital communications, as well as the depth of offerings in its collection and services, including outreach to seniors, a growing Hispanic population and the business community (population 7,690).

You’ll find the blurb on the library’s website, it’s a red box on the top right.

The Whale Museum’s Lecture Series: “The Sea Floor Around Us” Presented by Gary Greene

Image courtesy of The Whale Museum

The Whale Museum and San Juan Nature Institute are pleased to host Gary Greene for a lecture on July 30.  Professor Greene will discuss “The Sea Floor Around Us” on Thursday, July 30 at 6:30 p.m. at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor. Formerly the Director of the Moss Landing Marine Labs on Monterey Bay in California and currently a research faculty member at Friday Harbor Labs, Greene has pioneered sophisticated interpretive sonar techniques to map the sea floor in many regions of the Pacific Ocean. Now working with SeaDoc Society and heading its Tombolo Mapping Lab on Orcas Island, he has been making high-resolution 3D images of the Salish Sea floor. In the process, he has uncovered previously unknown benthic habitats and discovered geological features such as submarine faults and folds.

Greene will bring alive the deep undersea world around us through his exquisitely detailed maps which reveal the habitats of rockfish, Pacific sand lance, and other organisms critical to the local marine food chain. Greene has also discovered a significant new geological fault he dubbed the Skipjack Island Fault, which begins near South Pender Island and extends eastward to pass between Orcas and Sucia Islands. He will discuss his current research on this and other local submarine faults, including whether or not they might be active.

The July 30th lecture event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (360) 378-4710, ext. 30.  The Whale Museum is located in Friday Harbor at 62 First St. N.  Founded in 1976, The Whale Museum’s mission is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research.  In addition to providing exhibits, the Museum provides programs including Marine Naturalist Training, Orca Adoption Program, Soundwatch Boater Education, San Juan Islands Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and the Whale Hotline.  The Whale Museum can be found on-line at www.whalemuseum.org.

The Hiyu leaves Friday Harbor on a sunny day in 2009 – Ian Byington photo

Just heard that the Hiyu is about to be retired and put on standby status by the ferry system. Here’s a an excerpt from Washington State Ferries Weekly Update by Lynne Griffith…

With the Tillikum filling in on the Edmonds/Kingston run, 34-car Hiyu stepped up to help move people on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route this week. This could be the last time we see the Hiyu in revenue service, and some riders took the opportunity to share fond memories of their years riding on the smallest state ferry in Puget Sound. A team from King 5 went for a ride Wednesday and aired this news segment marking the potential last sailing.

WSF Photo

I was on the Hiyu a couple weeks back during my two-week Ordinary Seaman training. In the photo at right: My classmates and I learn how to operate the Hiyu’s davit crane system to lower a boat into the water.

Lynne Griffith
Assistant Secretary
WSDOT/Ferries Division

MacKaye Harbor Water District Special Three-day Candidate Filing Period July 29, 30, and 31

The San Juan County Elections Office announces a special three day filing period July 29 at 8 a.m. through July 31 at 4:30 p.m. for three MacKaye Harbor Water District commissioner positions. The special filing period is needed because no one filed during the initial filing period last week. When a void in candidacy occurs in a small water district not only are registered voters within the proposed district eligible to file but also anyone who is a registered voter in Washington State and holds title to land in the district is eligible to file.

Those interested in filing for office will need to complete a Declaration of Candidacy found at www.sanjuanco.com/elections. Declarations of Candidacy are also available at the San Juan County Elections Office. The Declaration of Candidacy forms can be mailed to San Juan County Elections, PO Box 638, Friday Harbor, WA 98250, emailed to elections [@] sanjuanco [.] com or taken to the Elections Office at 55 Second Street, Suite A, Friday Harbor. For more information about filing for office, call the Elections Office at (360) 378-3357.

Thinking it looks a little different over there on the top left side of this page? That’s because we’re making a small change and adding a new feature – Introducing: The Poster Board page, a new free service for you. The Calendar Feed (what used to be at left) will now reside on this new page. Click here to check it out.

The Poster Board offers a new dimension in getting the word out about your upcoming event. If you or anyone you know puts flyers up at any of the local places around town (outside the Post Office for example), you are welcome to send them by email to us and we will post them here for you as well. This is a free service offered by the San Juan Update and San Juan Calendar. Calendar listings are still the same as they were and also are free for any public event.

Take a look…

Carol Mae Rayborn

Carol Mae Rayborn –loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a firecracker of a human being lost her courageous battle with cancer on Friday, July 17, 2015 in Friday Harbor, WA. During her peaceful passing she was surrounded by family at her home. She was 78.

Carol was born November 6, 1936, in Sheboygan, WI, to loving parents, Walter ( Yetslavas Dudonis ) & Emma (Mueller) Jekenewicz. Carol had many wonderful memories of Sheboygan where she grew up with her brother John “Jack” Jekenewicz, her cousin Jim Nischik (Bonnie), Mary Lou Westerbeke (Rich) and high school friend Darlene Raml.

At the age of 19 she married the love of her life, Bill “Wilbur” D. Rayborn. Bill whisked her out west to Bellingham, WA. This is how Carol got the nickname “Maudy West”. They made their home on Civic Circle, where they added 3 children to the family; Terry “Sis”, Jeff “Buford” and Suzan “Red”. Wilbur and Maudy built their first house on Mcleod Rd, where they finished raising their children.

Carol loved being a homemaker; she was a wonderful hostess and ENTERTAINER to many friends and family. No one ever left Carol’s home hungry or sad, you left full and laughing! All were welcome to our home and offered her favorite cocktail a Vodka Martini (Dirty) straight up. Carol was a very strong special lady. She was always looking her best, and took pride in her home and family. She was someone you could count on when you needed a friend. She would help you see things in a different light, while making you crack up laughing. Even when dealing with her diagnosis, she could still crack jokes and keep everyone else uplifted. She definitely had a gift with her sense of humor. She always gave more than she took back. Continue Reading

Don’t forget – it’s this Saturday…

Whale Scout Helpin’ Out! – July 25th 9:00am -12:00pm
Third Lagoon, San Juan Island

Local non-profit, Whale Scout, has chosen the Land Bank’s Third Lagoon Preserve as one of their three Helpin’ Out events this summer. They’ll be out there this Saturday picking up the plastic debris that has accumulated on the beaches. If you’d like to join them, RSVP to info [@] whale scout [.] org.

Thank you Whale Scout!

Congratulations FH Grange! Minnie Knych shares this note from Tom Gwin, Washington State Grange Master…

Reorganized in 2012 after a span of 91 years, Friday Harbor Grange #225 was selected as the overall first place winners in the 2015 Washington State Grange Community Service Contest. The small Grange of 15 members is located in the town of Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

Each year, the members of Friday Harbor Grange take responsibility for organizing the Community Thanksgiving Dinner on San Juan Island. Turkeys are donated by a local business, and Grange members prepare the turkeys and send them home with community volunteers to cook on Thanksgiving morning along with traditional fixings. Grange members and volunteers spend the entire day working the dinner, cooking, cleaning, and serving almost 500 community members.

Friday Harbor Grange also had a variety of smaller projects that contributed to their winning entry. Grange members gave away 425 flowering currant shrubs to island residents for Arbor Day. In cooperation with the San Juan Island Historical Museum, they sponsored the second annual San Juan Island Pioneer Festival. Grange members built eight picnic tables for the San Juan Island Historical Museum picnic grounds. Numerous other service projects were reported as well.

For their efforts, Friday Harbor Grange will be official representative in the National Grange Community Service Contest. The other overall contest place winners were:

• Second Place – Deer Lagoon Grange of Island County
• Third Place – Sunnyside Grange of Cowlitz County
• Fourth Place – Humptulips Grange of Grays Harbor County.

Each of the four overall place winners received a cash award from the National Grange.

State Awards more than $110 Million in Grants for Recreation and to Conserve Working Farms and Wildlife Habitat

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board has awarded more than $110 million to 268 projects to build parks and boating facilities, give people access to shorelines, maintain trails and conserve working farms and critical wildlife habitat.

“These grants are important to our economy because they help local communities create the kinds of places that people want to live and work, and tourists want to visit,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “Washington’s outdoor recreation industry is as important to our economy as our technology and aerospace industries. Making sure we take good care of our outdoor places is important to many businesses and families in this state.”

A recent study noted that $21.6 billion is spent in Washington on recreation trips and equipment annually and $4.6 billion comes from out-of-state visitors. Outdoor recreation also supports nearly 200,000 jobs, rivaling the technology and aerospace industries. Continue Reading