The Washington Utilities and Transport Commission on Thursday granted a petition filed by the operator of MV San Juan Clipper to temporarily suspended operations until May 2023.

San Juan Express, Inc. filed the petition with the UTC two weeks ago, on April 13. With its approval, SJE will eliminate their four day per week service from Seattle to Friday Harbor between May 12 and Sept. 5, as well as their three day per week service between Sept. 9 and Oct. 9.

“SJE had hoped, bolstered by a prospective fuel surcharge, to continue operations at an increased capacity of approximately a 200 passenger limit, to resume service and attain modest profitability in the 2022 sailing season,” according to the petition. “However, in late March 2022 and ironically on the same day of SJE’s pending fuel surcharge submission, the Company’s outside naval architect was informed by the United States Coast Guard that apparently due to controlling federal regulations which were revised following a major vessel fire off the coast of California, SJE’s vessel capacity would be limited to 150 passengers for the indefinite future until and unless significant design changes in the vessel were implemented.”

Those design changes relate to the vessel’s staircases, which currently have direct access to spaces in which a fire could originate. Continue Reading

• MV Yakima remains out of service. This will cancel the 5:45 a.m., 6:25 p.m., and 10:05 p.m. scheduled sailings from Friday Harbor. New reservations are still suspended and existing reservation holders will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Due to the strong response it received the first time around, 50 more prints of Doug DeMeerleer’s painting of the buildings at the corner of Spring and First Street have been created thanks to the fine folks at Printonyx. The prints won’t last long, so get to Cecil’s on Argyle as early as you can today if you want one. They’re $25, cash or check only, and all proceeds once again go the Family Resource Center to help those impacted by the April 7 fire with essential household and family needs.
• The store at the farm formerly known as Dancing Seeds is open. They have tulips, lettuce, radishes, greens, and spring garlic. You can find them at 3501 Beaverton Valley Road.
• It’s the last day to take part in the Community Care Cans project organized by Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor, which is collecting household items to help islanders in need.
• There are currently 24 actively monitored COVID cases on San Juan Island. Next week’s on-island vaccine clinic for second boosters is currently full, but appointments may become available if existing registrants cancel.
• Coho is back with another Saturday night pop-up. This week it’s Mexican-themed — tamales, tacos, mole, enchiladas, huaraches, flan, concha and horchata. It runs from 5 to 10 p.m.

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The charred remains of the four Spring Street buildings destroyed in an April 7 arson will likely start to come down on Monday.

According to Friday Harbor Town Administrator Denice Kulseth, the two insurance companies that underwrote the policies on the buildings – Farmers Insurance and Liberty Mutual – have agreed to hire local company MEM Enterprises to demolish and haul away what remains of the structures.

MEM expects to start work on Monday and has estimated that the project will take two weeks to complete.

It’s not yet known when Spring Street will reopen to traffic.

“The Town will need to ensure the site does not present a safety hazard to vehicles or pedestrians and that any traffic routing makes sense from a safety perspective,” Kulseth explained.

University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs shares news about their first open house in several years.

We are delighted to share the good news that UW Friday Harbor Labs will host its first open house in several years. We look forward to welcoming our community and San Juan Island visitors to the Labs on Saturday, May 21, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

During the free open house, the Labs will be open for self-guided tours. Everyone is welcome and invited to check out the research and teaching facilities. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet scientists and students who will showcase their marine science research, answer questions and provide demonstrations. There will be posters, marine plants and animals, microscopes, plankton sampling and observations, and activities for visitors of all ages. This is a great family-friendly event.

The public is invited to learn more about marine zoology, botany, fisheries, oceanography, and the equipment used by scientists in these fields. The R/V Kittiwake, FHL’s research vessel, will be open for visitation. There will also be an underwater SCUBA demonstration from the FHL dock, and scientific lectures by resident researchers. Walking shoes are recommended because the tour route includes rough dock planks, gravel paths and trails.

In keeping with Friday Harbor Labs open house tradition, there will be free popcorn.

FHL’s website provides a detailed overview of our research, service and educational activities.

MV Yakima, the number two vessel on the San Juan Islands-Anacortes ferry route, is out of service indefinitely following an incident at Lopez Island yesterday afternoon.

“We’re just beginning an investigation into what happened,” says Ian Sterling, public information officer for Washington State Ferries. “We know that the anchor was dislodged somehow and damaged both parts of the dock and the Yakima itself above the waterline. The vessel is out of service until we can determine what led to the incident. We’re beginning repairs to both the slip at Lopez and the Yakima today. Hopefully, we’ll know more soon.”

With all of the Yakima’s sailings cancelled, no new reservations are available for the rest of the sailings in order to leave extra space for travelers affected by the disruption in service. Existing reservations holders will be given priority on a first-come, first-serve basis. No-show fees will not be charged for those who do not travel.

To help limit additional service disruptions, new reservations have been suspended through at least Sunday, May 1.

• San Juan County is holding the first of three public meetings related to the development of its Sustainable Tourism Management Plan tonight. The meeting will take place over Zoom from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required.
• Friday Harbor High School baseball lost 11-8 at Coupeville, ending their winning streak at ten games and placing them in a tie with Coupeville at the top of the 1B/2B Northwest District standings. The Wolverines play again on Friday in a road game at Concrete.
• High school fastpitch also lost to Coupeville on Tuesday by a 6-3 count. They’re off until next Tuesday when they play a home doubleheader against LaConner.
• Scholarships are available for Island Rec programs. Make sure to apply before summer program registration opens on Monday.
• Salty at Heart Island Apothecary is having their grand opening on Friday. Stop by between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• The Madrona Bar & Grill at Roche Harbor re-opens for the season today. They’ll be open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Starting Monday, May 16, residents interested in running for political office can submit their candidate filings. Eight countywide offices are up for a vote in the November 8 general election, including Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, District 3 Councilmember, District Court Judge, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, and Treasurer.

According to the San Juan County Elections Office, candidates may submit their filings online, by email, by fax, or in person at 55 Second Street, Suite A. Online filing will be available starting at 9 a.m. on May 16 through 4 p.m. on Friday, May 20. In-person, emailed, or faxed filings will be accepted on the same days between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The County will accept mail-in filings no sooner than Monday, May 2. Mailed filings must be received no later than May 20.

The names of candidates facing two or more challengers will appear on the August 2 primary ballot. Offices with one or two candidates filed will go directly to the November 8 general election ballot. Precinct committee officers are elected on the August 2 primary ballot, if opposed. If unopposed, they are deemed elected.

More details are available on the Elections Office website.

• Doug DeMeerleer’s artwork, Printonyx’s printing, and Cecil DeMeerleer’s publicity efforts joined forces to raise $1,155 for the Family Resource Center. The funds will be used to help those impacted by the April 7 fire with essential household and family needs. There’s a chance that additional prints of Doug’s painting of the buildings at the corner of Spring and First Streets will be available soon. We’ll keep you posted.
• A meal train has been organized for James Duke, whose partner Venita Iverson passed away on Sunday. There are plenty of openings left if you’re interesting in helping out.
• The OPALCO Board of Directors election deadline is today. At least 10 percent of co-op members must cast a vote in the election in order to achieve a quorum and have the election count.
• Friday Harbor High School baseball and fastpitch had their road games against Coupeville postponed due to weather. Both teams will give it another shot today.
• The Madrone Cellars & Cider tasting room at 40 First Street is back to their normal hours, starting today. They’ll be open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Their wine garden is open as well.

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Incumbent San Juan County Assessor John Kulseth has announced his intention to run for re-election.

“I’ve had the privilege of serving as your Assessor for the past eight years and am asking for the opportunity to continue serving you,” Kulseth said in his campaign announcement. “I’ve worked for the past eighteen years to understand and successfully respond to the challenges of the Assessor’s Office, including moving from a three-year cyclical re-valuation process to an annual re-valuation process, and adapting to the increasing public desire for online information. I have and will continue to dedicate my time and effort to providing the service taxpayers expect and promoting an assessment process that is professional, fair, and clearly understood. I ask for your ongoing trust and your vote in November.”

County Assessor is one of eight positions up for a vote in the Nov. 8 general election. The County Council seat for District 3 (Lopez and Shaw), Auditor, Clerk, Prosecuting Attorney, Sheriff, Treasurer, and District Court Judge are also open in 2022. The primary election for those contests takes place Aug. 2.

San Juan Island National Historical Park shares an update about the opening of its English Camp and American Camp visitors this spring and summer.

San Juan Island National Historical Park is getting ready to open its visitor centers for the year.

This year, the English Camp Visitor Center will open Friday, May 28, and will remain open until October 1. The American Camp Visitor Center, where staff and volunteers are working on visitor enhancements and installing a brand new, state of the art exhibits, will open the weekend of July 4. San Juan Island National Historical Park received over 630,000 visitors in 2021, a steep increase above past years. Our seasonal staff and park hosts are ready and excited to welcome you to our park.

The new American Camp Visitor Center, created in collaboration with the park-associated Tribes of San Juan Island, will be unlike any other park facility we have built. Park staff have worked closely with artists, artisans, scholars, and scientists to create a community facility that pays tribute to the multiple histories of San Juan Island and their meaning for different individuals and groups and the unique environment of our island.

Regular programming scheduled for this summer include guided walks, historical tours, living history, and recurring Monday night contra dancing. This year is the 150th anniversary of the Boundary Dispute Resolution which ensured a peaceful settlement to The Pig War; we have already begun programming and have much more on hand this summer. A major highlight will be the long awaited return of popular multi-day living history encampment which will return to English Camp in early August. If you or your organization would like to partner with us to commemorate this history, please contact us.

Our staff is excited to see visitors new and old this summer.

• Friday Harbor High School’s baseball and fastpitch teams take on Coupeville on the road today at 4 p.m.
• St. David’s Episcopal Church is hosting a free concert this Sunday featuring works from C.P.E. Bach, Giovanni Pergolisi and Richard Lind. Any proceeds from donations at the door will be given to the Friday Harbor Food Bank and the Family Resource Center.
• The Mullis Center is looking for volunteer drivers to deliver meals and help clients travel to appointments both on and off island. They also need reception desk help and assistance with meal setup and kitchen cleanup. Contact Debbie (360-370-7526) or Anna (360-370-7520) if you’re able to help.
• Family Art Days continues at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art this Saturday, where family art packs can be picked up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This week’s project involves creating seascapes and waves with patterned paper. Pre-registration is required.
• Friday’s Crabhouse opens for the season on … Friday, of course.
• The San Juan Preservation Trust is looking for bird enthusiasts to help them search for Western Bluebirds on San Juan Island tomorrow morning in their second and final bluebird blitz of the year. You can register here.

Photo credit: Brad Pillow

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The Town of Friday Harbor shares an update about the USDA award they received last week.

The Town of Friday Harbor’s wastewater treatment plant improvement project begins later this year and has already earned the Town special recognition. On behalf of the Town, Mayor Ray Jackson accepted the Building a Better America Environmental Stewardship Award from USDA Rural Development at San Juan County’s Earth Day celebration. This award is in response to major upgrades planned for the plant that will ensure its ability to provide the increasingly high level of treatment required by the state.

“As a coastal community, we have both the desire and obligation to invest in the protection of our marine environment,” said Jackson, adding that the Town is proud to be bringing this quality improvement to the community.

According to the State Director for USDA Rural Development, Helen Price Johnson, the award is in “grateful recognition on Earth Day, April 22, 2022, for your continuing commitment to maintain and improve the environment and ensure a sustainable future for the members of your community and beyond.”

The wastewater treatment plant project is expected to take two to three years. The Town has secured grant funding and low-interest financing from USDA Rural Development for most of the $16 million project.