The View from Mt. Grant – Bob Stavers photo

Preservation Trust, Land Bank Take First Steps to Secure “Mount Grant”

The San Juan Preservation Trust and the San Juan County Land Bank are collaborating on an exciting land acquisition project on San Juan Island that, if successful, will become an extraordinary nature preserve accessible to all.

Click to enlarge map

Long valued by adventurous hikers willing to trespass to capture its stunning 360-degree views, this 141-acre ridgetop property had been subdivided into twelve view lots and listed for sale as “Lawson Ridge,” an exclusive residential development. A portion of this property drains into Trout Lake, the Town of Friday Harbor’s primary source of drinking water, and includes important native plant and animal habitat, lush wildflower meadows, miles of trails, and easy road access to the summit and its spectacular panoramic views.

On March 9th, the San Juan Preservation Trust, a private non-profit land trust, and the San Juan County Land Bank, an agency of San Juan County, made a $1.0 million down payment on the $3.0 million purchase. A $2.0 million seller-financed loan is secured by the land itself; should this conservation partnership default on this loan, the sellers would likely re-list the lots for sale as private residential estates.

The Preservation Trust will launch a community fundraising campaign on San Juan Island to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the purchase. “If we succeed, this could provide San Juan Island with the very first place where visitors with mobility restrictions can enjoy such sweeping vistas,” said Tim Seifert, Executive Director of the San Juan Preservation Trust. “We all have friends or family that are elderly, or physically disabled, or that have young children unable to hike up to the few dramatic outlooks we have on this island. Imagine how much fun it would be to share this place with them.” Continue Reading

Island Rec funny teens – Contributed photo

If you thought looking for Easter eggs was kids stuff, try finding one in the dark, amongst the logs at Jackson beach! Find the golden eggs and receive prizes like Amazon gift cards and other local merchant gift certificates. Friday night, April 3rd, from 8:30 – 10:00pm at Jackson Beach. There will be a bonfire, games, hot chocolate and, of course, the egg hunt. Bring a flashlight and hunting bag.

To view a full schedule of our programs or to register online please visit our website at www.IslandRec.org, call 360-378-4953, or visit our office at 580 Guard St. Monday – Friday 1-5pm.

Pet portraits – Alan Niles photo

Alan is now scheduling sittings for three days; May 3, 4 & 5. The Pet Portrait event will take place at The Fairgrounds in the Jim Crook Textile Building.

In addition to donating a percentage of the proceeds of this event to The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor, Alan will donate $25 for each sitting scheduled through the animal shelter. To schedule your sitting to benefit the animal shelter call 378-2158 or visit the shelter at 111 Shelter Road. This event promises to fill fast, so don’t wait too long to schedule your sitting!

FHHS Girls Tennis coach Laura Geniuch sends over this recap of this week’s games…

South Whidbey island graciously hosted our first match, and here are the results. I will give our scores first – we lost all our varsity matches. The girls all displayed good sportsmanship and learned a lot. Senior Ashton Timmons gave her all in a tight match against South Whidbey Islands #1 singles player. She and all of the team showed graciousness in defeat against this formidable school and are motivated to work on their game.

• #1 singles: Ashton Timmons (FH) vs. Macey Bishop (SW) 6-7 6-3 (3rd set tie break 5-10) * this was a very tough close match!
• #2 singles: Yasmine Sarah (FH) vs. Kendra Warwicks (FH) 0-6 2-6
• #1 doubles: Summer Fox and Sophie Dillery (FH) vs. Isla Dubendorf and Bayley Gochanour (SW) 0-6 0-6
• #2 doubles: Isabel Gabriel and Morgan Timmons (FH) vs.Iona Rohan and Lucy Clements(SW) 1-6 1-6
• #3 doubles: Hailey Loucks and Halle Carrier (FH) vs. Carmen Warwick and Taylor Hamilton (SW) 5-7 2-6

The Friday Harbor Athletic Association is hosting a 7th and 8th Grade Boys Basketball Tournament this weekend March 21 & 22 at Turnbull and Hall Gyms. Games start at 11:15 Saturday and 11:00 on Sunday. Seven off-island teams are coming to compete with the Friday Harbor Tigers.

There will be a large BBQ serving Tri Tip, Burgers and Dogs, with a full concession stand with snacks and drinks. $2.00 admission kids 12 and under are free. Event poster at this link. (PDF)

This just came in from the Land Bank…

The weather looks good for today – hope you can make it!

Weeds and Woodchips at Red Mill Farm Nursery 

• When: Wednesday, March 18, 12 – 2 pm.
• What: Help the Salish Seeds Project grow with Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust staff.  We’ll be weeding native seed production beds and spreading woodchips.
• Where: Red Mill Farm, San Juan Island.  From Friday Harbor, head west out of town on San Juan Valley Road.  At approx. 3 miles, turn left onto Valley Farms Road.  Take the first right into the farmhouse driveway.  Please pull up next to farmhouse and park well off driveway.
• Bring: Gloves and your favorite weeding tool (optional).  We’ll have snacks and water available.

RSVP: tanjaw [@] rockisland [.] com or 370-7655.

Spring Sowing at Driggs Park Nursery 

• When: Thursday, March 26, 12 – 2 pm.
• What: Celebrate spring!  We’ll be sowing native wildflower and grass seeds and doing nursery maintenance for the Salish Seeds Project.
• Where: Driggs Park Nursery (the Land Bank office, 328 Caines St. in Friday Harbor)
• Bring: Gloves and reading glasses (some of these seeds are tiny!).  We’ll have snacks and water available.

RSVP: tanjaw [@] rockisland [.] com or 370-7655.

The Building at 395 Spring Street – Contributed photo

A Rummage Sale to benefit the beautification and restoration of the historic building at 395 Spring Street, owned by Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church, will be held on Sunday, March 22nd, from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. The building is in need of many improvements so that it may continue to serve the local community, as it has for decades, as needed space for helpful and enriching family group meetings and gatherings. All proceeds go to the 395 Improvement Fund of the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church.

Donations from the community are needed and appreciated. Please drop by any unwanted salable items priced to 395 Spring Street Sunday morning between 9:30 and 11 am. Monetary donations would be greatly appreciated! Tax-exempt donation Checks can be written to: 395 Improvement Fund, . Mailing address: Presbyterian Church. P.O. Box 946, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Thank you for supporting this important building that provides vital services to our community in the form of compassionate family support.​

Left to Right & back to front: Roger Paul, Jim Frampton, Joe Kantor, Gray Cope, Luc Durette, Hillsun Dihn, Vince Streno, and Bud Bolin – Contributed photo

Here’s a note from Island Rec congratulating the winners of last weekend’s Table Tennis winners…

Congratulations to Joe Kantor of Anacortes, Hillsun Dihn of Anacortes, Jim Frampton, and Grey Cope, for being big winners in the 4th Annual Table Tennis Tournament this weekend in each of their Divisions.

Roger Paul, Vince Streano, Luc Durette, and Bud Bolin took second place in their divisions.

Joe Kantor won the tournament two years ago, 2013 also. Thanks to everyone who participated and made it happen.

Thanks to Mi Casita, Tia’s Tacos, Golden Triangle, and Families and Neighbors Support Island Rec (FANS) for Prizes. For more information call 378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org.

Fix it yourself

If you missed the You Can Fix It Fair, a free event sponsored by Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor on February 28th, you missed a great chance to learn. Women who attended were raving about the great presenters and all the extremely practical and useful skills they picked up.

“That’s going to save me a bunch of money!” exclaimed one anonymous fairgoer after a presentation.

With instruction covering walls, bathrooms, electricity, and general tools, there was information for everyone.

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor extends special thanks to expert instructors: Donny Galt and Doug Duffy, Ace Hardware; Terry Ogle and Shannon Plummer, Terry Ogle Painting Inc, and Scott Van Buskirk. Sincere appreciation also to those who generously contributed materials and support: Friday Harbor Thrift House, Flagship Rentals, Community Treasures, Vinny’s Ristorante, Coho Restaurant, The Palace Theatre, and the San Juan Update.

For more information visit Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor at www.sifri.org.

Here’s a heads up from CenturyLink about some network testing coming up early, early Thursday morning…

Scheduled test to take place Mar. 19

CenturyLink will perform network switching testing of their radio and fiber facilities in the San Juan Islands. During this testing, CenturyLink customers may experience a brief disruption affecting Internet service. However, 911, inter-island dialing and long distance service will remain available.

• Who: CenturyLink Customers
• What: A scheduled testing
• Where: San Juan County
• When: March 19, 2015, between 12:00 am and 5:00 am

Sculpture Park Sunrise – Kevin Holmes photo

Kevin Holmes shares this beautiful photo of the sunrise Monday morning over the Sculpture Park out at Roche Harbor. Be sure to click to enlarge it. Thanks Kevin!

Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer – Contributed photo

Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer have been touring extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe and are back on the island with a live concert at San Juan Community Theatre THIS Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 pm.

They’re celebrating the release of their new album, Maritime, which captures a moment in time and place from their seaside home. Upon early release in Europe, Maritime charted at #1 on the EuroAmericana Chart for two consecutive months and ranked among the Top Albums of 2014 by The Telegraph, praising it for “…soulful songs, intuitive musicianship and fine singing.”

Wanting to record live on San Juan Island (in a home, at the end of a dirt road, amidst towering evergreens), the duo called on their cohort of kindred musicians and producers to come together from across the country to make what they were calling their “island record.” Unique in its authenticity—navigating the waters of folk, indie-rock, and rootsy Americana—the album is emotive, raw and honest.

Dave and Mandy met in Arizona in 2010, relocating to the Pacific Northwest two years later. Together, their exceptional vocal harmonies coupled with Mandy’s pioneering electric guitar work have become a vehicle to carry them around the world… and when they can, back to the island home they love.

Tickets are available at www.sjctheatre.org or 378-3210.

Here’s Sheila Harley with this month’s firefighter…

Michelle Stringer – Sheila Harley photo

Michelle Stringer, FF1, is one of our newest firefighters. The first thing she did in her training was learn to be a wildlands firefighter. Hence her acquaintance with Smokey the Bear.

She grew up a “Navy brat” and has lived all over the country spending much of that time in Philadelphia where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Physical Therapy from The University of the Sciences.

After graduation, Michelle lived in Seattle where she worked at Harborview Medical Center three days a week and at Providence Hospital in Everett two days a week.

She and her partner, Katie , who has since become a member of our Logistics Team, travelled to San Juan Island looking for wedding venues and saw a house that they loved and from there, they say, is history.

Michelle interviewed and obtained a position with Joyce Thomson at Islanders Physical Therapy and moved here soon after. While with a patient one day, the patient suggested she sign up for the Wildlands Training class which was starting soon. So she did and quite liked it so went on to become a structural firefighter as well.

She has enjoyed learning a whole new skill set in becoming a firefighter. “Its exhilarating!”, she says. Michelle is also learning things about herself in that she can do a lot of things she never thought of doing. Firefighting is helping her to become assimilated into our community and not to be just an anonymous face among the people living on our island. She wants to be a truly contributing member of this community.

After a recent drill in which the fire department was given a small building to burn for practice, Michelle went right up to the owner and thanked him for “letting us burn his building down”. She is a born diplomat!

After Michelle gets some time as a firefighter under her helmet, she would very much like to further her experience by becoming an officer.

“If you have any hint of desire to become an volunteer fifefighter come and try it out. If you decide you don’t like it you can leave, nobody is going to make you stay. But chances are you are going to fall in love with it.”

San Juan Island Fire Rescue welcomes all interested men and women, ages 16 years of age and over to drop by the Mullis Street station and make an appointment to see what we are all about. Or, look online at www.sjif.org for lots of goood information. Our phone number is 360-378-5334. We would be happy to talk with you.

 Here’s the latest from the Chamber of Commerce, written by Lauren Cohen, Co-Owner of San Juan Canvas & Chamber Board President

Moving Forward
Your Chamber of Commerce is now officially being directed by Becki Day who presented at her first Board of Directors meeting and Chamber Social this month. We are all excited to have her at the helm and look forward to many positive changes at the Chamber which she has already started to implement.

Bill Cumming and Sally Thomsen – Contributed photo

Yay Island Rec
Island Rec held a fantastic chamber social out at Roche Harbor on March 9. It was a beautiful evening and well attended. Great thanks go to Sally Thomsen, Bill Cumming and everyone at Island Rec for hosting. Sally and Bill both made very impassioned statements for the upcoming Island Rec levy. Extra thanks go to Brent Snow and Roche Harbor Resort for the wonderful Pavilion Room and great food & drink they provided. Chamber members, be sure to join us at our next social on April 6….location to be announced.

Island Fun
We are working on some fun events to take us into spring and summer. First up is our Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 26 at the San Juan Island Golf and Country Club. This fun evening recognizes our outstanding businesses voted on by fellow islanders. Everyone is welcome. Contact the Chamber office at 378-5240 or email
chamber [@] sanjuanisland [.] org for more information.

Saturday, April 18 is the Great Islands Clean Up. This fun and important community event helps to keep our islands clean and beautiful which benefits all of us. All businesses and individuals alike are encouraged to participate. Chamber members, let’s all pick up trash in front of our businesses or join in with a team to clean up our roadsides and beaches. Contact the Chamber office for more information on how to get involved.

Visitor Center
Your Chamber of Commerce office and Visitor’s Center are in the planning stage of a remodel to update the neglected, tired and outdated face of the San Juan Island business community. Thanks to very generous donations of materials and labor, we will end up with a beautiful center to greet the thousands of visitors that pass through our door. We are still in need of some materials – specifically barn wood, nine 8×10 black frames and cork squares (or rolls). We can use some volunteers to help with various tasks as well. A complete list of needed items will be in the member messages. If you would like to see our island visitors welcomed in a way to make us all proud, give the Chamber a call to ask how you might assist.

Spring Is On The Way!!

Mount Grant -Kurt Thorson photo

It’s time for the annual San Juan Trails Committee “Spring is Here” Potluck! March 19th, 6:00 pm at the Grange.

Hear Tim Seifert, executive director of the San Juan Preservation Trust, introduce an exciting new land acquisition project taking shape on San Juan Island; and see photos of Mount Grant, formerly known as Lawson Ridge.

• Bring a dish to share with your group and others
• Bring your own plates, utensils, cups, beverages of your choice
• Coffee, Tea and Water available
• Make new friends, see old friends
• Celebrate what makes our island home great!

Open to one and all, come have a good time. Doors open 5:40 pm

Ricky and Snoopy – Contributed photo

Hi, I’m Ricky, the tabby cat. This is a picture of me and my best friend in the whole world, Snoopy, or “Snoop-Dog” as I like to call him. Snoopy is the best pal a guy could ask for.

When I arrived here at the animal shelter a few months ago I was pretty scared. I’d only ever known one home and then the next thing I knew I was homeless, afraid and very sad. Good thing for me Snoopy had arrived at the shelter a couple of months before I did. He took me under his wing and helped me understand that I don’t need to be so frightened about being here and he showed me how great it is when folks come in and pet me and scratch me under my chin!

Ever since Snoopy and I became buddies I feel so much better. We’re such good friends, we’re hoping we can find a home together. We sleep together, eat together and even groom each other, so we’ve become pretty attached to each other. Snoopy even cleans my ears! If that’s not friendship, I don’t know what is… As much as Snoop and I love each other, we both also love people… so if you’re in the neighborhood, stop in and meet us!