Dance Happy Performance – Contributed Photo

Dance Happy classes for children, ages 2 1/2 to 12 years, have just begun.  Bill and Rita Ament offer exciting classes in Creative, Pre-Ballet, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop and Zumba for Kids.  Opening a new Mommy and Me class, called Zumbini, for ages 3 months to 3 years.  Also offering an Adult Beginners/Intermediate Tap Class. 

To register and reserve your space, call Bill & Rita  378-9628 or go to www.amentdancehappy.com.

The above picture shows the Dance Happy annual performance at the San Juan Community Theater in June, which is the culmination of their dance program each year.  All classes held at Dance Workshop 2.

L-Pod’s New Calf L-120 – Photo by Dave Ellifrit

It was so exciting to announce the birth of the new baby orca L-120 on Sunday! First spotted Saturday, Sept 6, here from the Center for Whale Research are further details on our good news…

Whale researchers from the Center for Whale Research from San Juan Island were excited yesterday (Sept. 6) when they encountered a subgroup of Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW’s in official jargon) in the Strait of Juan de Fuca near Salmon Bank. Tucked between two adult females in L pod was a very small newborn killer whale that still had creases on its side due to “fetal folds”, indicating it was probably less than one week old. The baby’s dorsal fin was upright (not folded over), indicating it was probably more than one day old, so we are estimating its birthday was in early September 2014. The last time this subgroup of L pod whales was in the area was on 19 August, at which time the baby must have still been ‘in utero’ – near term, but not yet born. Gestation in this species is approximately 17 months, and obligatory lactation is about one year by which time a young whale can eat solid food – in the SRKW case solid food means salmon. Continue Reading

Kevin Ranker – Contributed Photo

News from San Juan Island National Historical Park: Come join us for the finale of our summer-long speaker series, Climate Action Imperative: Understanding Impacts & Making Choices, at a hosted reception at 5 p.m. and program at 7 p.m. on September 10 at the San Juan Community Theatre in Friday Harbor. Both events are free and open to all community members.

 This special evening wraps up the summer speaker series, which featured eight experts on Climate Change–from oceanographers to botanists, biologists to meteorologists.　

The speakers provided a current look at climate change, and what actions are warranted by individuals as well as by our state and nation.

The reception, co-hosted by the Northwest Straits Foundation and San Juan County Marine Resources Committee, is for community members who want to learn more about Northwest Straits Foundation’s role in protecting and restoring the health of the marine ecosystem in the San Juan Islands and throughout the entire Northwest Straits region. You will also learn how you can make an impact on marine conservation in our community. Continue Reading

National Theatre Live: Medea – Contributed Photo

This Friday, Sept 12 at 7:00 pm, San Juan Community Theatre and National Theatre Live presents Helen McCrory (The Last of the Haussmans) in the title role of Euripides’ powerful tragedy, MEDEA—a new version by Ben Power, directed by Carrie Cracknell.

Medea is a wife and a mother. For the sake of her husband, Jason, she has left her home and borne two sons in exile.  But when he abandons his family for a new life, Medea faces banishment and separation from her children. Cornered, she begs for one day’s grace. It’s time enough. She exacts an appalling revenge and destroys everything she holds dear.

Tickets for MEDEA are $20 for adults, $18 for SJCT members and $10 for student reserved.  The SJCT box office (378-3210) is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.   Tickets are also available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org

Paula West Pottery – Contributed Photo

Local ceramic artist Paula West has been nominated for the 2014 American Made Awards. Paula describes her work as, handmade, functional art for your table crafted in porcelain clay with contemporary and whimsical designs.

Her American Made Audience Choice Award nominee profile is now live and you can support Paula through social media to improve her chances to earn one of 200 wild-card finalist spots for grand prize consideration. Says Paula, “There are a lot of great makers in the running and regardless of the outcome the handmade movement is getting more press. Thank you all for your support!

On her profile page, Paula answers the question, What does American Made mean to you? American Made is local, handmade, genuine, and honest. It is your neighbor making a chair, a pot, a rug in their garage and starting a business from the love of creating. It is sharing your skill and enthusiasm for your work with your community and creating with pride and integrity to make our world a more beautiful place.

Link to: Paula West Pottery

Kids Pile Up at Island Rec’s 30th Anniversary – Photo by Aaron Shepard

On Saturday, Island Rec celebrated their 3oth year anniversary. Before showing Ghostbusters, Saturday’s classic movie in Island Rec’s  Movies in the Park free movie series, participants enjoyed birthday cake, a photo display celebrating 30 years of Island Rec, and a big fun pile up of kids!

Don’t miss Island Rec’s next Movie in the Park offering Saturday, September 11, Secondhand Lions, a heart warming story about a teenager left in the care of his cantankerous and eccentric uncles. Bring blankets and lawn chairs, no alcohol please, and enjoy the free popcorn.

For more information call 378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org.

Charlotte – Contributed Photo

We think the fact that Charlotte’s beautiful eyes are a bit crossed just adds character to this sweet girl.  She’s a dilute calico,  about 3 years old and such a nice, gentle lady.   She came to the shelter several weeks ago as a frightened stray and we’ve seen her blossom into a lovely, friendly cat who would make a wonderful pet and companion.  Stop by the shelter to meet her soon!

Jazz Whale – Flossie McRae

The baby belongs to L-86 an orca named Surpise!. The letter L stands for the pod and the number 86 means that Surprise! was the 86th orca counted in L-pod since we began counting. The baby is L-120.

What makes this birth especially exciting is the fact that new baby  L-120 is the first new calf for the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW), comprised of J, K, and L Pods, since 2012.

Help us celebrate the bounty of the autumn harvest! Bicycle to three working farms for a tour and a chance to meet & greet Lopez farmers. Learn about how conservation and agriculture can work together.

Following the bike tour, we’ll gather at the historic Port Stanley Schoolhouse to enjoy delicious locally grown food, drinks, music and conservation.

$25 per person. RSVP required.

Sunday, September 21 – Tea & Scones – 10:30 – 11 am (Port Stanley School), Farm Tour by Bike – 11 am to 1:30 pm (arrive by 10:45 for 11:00 departure), Harvest Fest – 1:30 pm – 4 pm (Port Stanley School).

Biking distance on the farm tour is about four miles round-trip with a fairly gentle grade. If you’re not a biker, and prefer to join us for the harvest fest only, please do!

RSVP Required for both tour and harvest fest. To register, please contact Bella French at 360-378-2461 or bella [@] shpt [.] org

Note: The fall ferry schedule starts on this day.

Garden Swap – Contributed Photo 

The second annual Fall Garden Plant, Seed and Tool Swap is just around the corner on Sunday, October 5th at Brickworks.

The swap is an opportunity to trade garden cuttings, starts, seeds, tools, books and garden art for things you might otherwise buy. Swap-goers should bring items to trade by 11:30am for the pre-swap preview. The swap will begin promptly at 1pm so be sure to come early to have the best shot at the you want. Plant material and seeds should be labeled with plant type, variety and color.

The Master Gardeners will be on hand to help identify plants and provide cultivation information.

For more information contact Sandy Strehlou 378.8337 or sandy [@] strehlou [.] com.

This event is free to the public and sponsored by the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild Brickworks.

Contributed Photo

If you are a fan of folk songs and history, live music and song, don’t miss the event Griffin Bay Bookstore is hosting for Michael K. Honey on Saturday, September 13, 7:00 pm. The University of Washington-Tacoma author and professor will present his latest book: Sharecropper’s Troubadour. This special event will also include a slide show and short movie.

Sharecropper’s Troubadour tells the story of John Handcox. Descended from African American slaves, Native Americans, and white slave owners, John Handcox was born to a family of poor Arkansas sharecroppers at one of the hardest times to be black in America. Over the first few decades of the twentieth century, he survived attempted lynchings, floods, droughts, and the ravages of the Great Depression to organize black and white farmers alike on behalf of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union. He also became one of the most beloved folk singers of the prewar labor movement, composing songs such as “Roll the Union On” and “There Is Mean Things Happening in this Land” that bridged racial divides and kept the spirits of striking workers high. Continue Reading

Frog – Photo by Peggy Sue McRae

With the change of the seasons you may be getting in firewood and making applesauce already but don’t put away that beach towel just yet! There is still good swimming in our Island lakes and ponds. With this sunny September weather the pond was a little warmer today than it was even a few days ago. Not, really warm, but if you swim horizontally close to the surface those top four inches are lovely!

Another great thing about pond swimming in September is the golden quality of the afternoon light. The way it shimmers when reflected off the pond and into the trees is reminiscent of spinning, mirrored, disco balls. Rose hips add color to the greenery, little blue dragonflies sun themselves on floating yellow alder leaves and little green frogs seem to appear out of nowhere. It may not be for everyone but for those hardy souls who take the plunge, it can be magical.

Taking the Plunge – Photo by Margaret Bell

Transient Orca Whales at Play – Photo by Katie Jones

Photographer and naturalist Katie Jones captured these orca whales with her camera in President’s Channel off the west side of Orcas Island. Says Katie, “These are transient orca whales goofing around after they made a breakfast kill.” What a way to start the day!

Volunteer Work Crew on Sucia – Contributed Photo

Friends of the San Juans wishes to thank the 29 volunteers from Orcas, Lopez, San Juan, and Shaw Islands as well as LUSH Seattle store volunteers who participated in a shoreline work party at Fossil Bay on Sucia Island.

Following a beautiful boat ride to Sucia and an overview of the value of beaches to surf smelt and salmon everyone got right to work clearing litter from over a mile of beach; conducting 5 surf smelt egg surveys; and removing rock from 1,500 square feet of surf smelt spawning habitat.

The Fossil Bay beach is one of the latest identified as smelt spawning beach in San Juan County. FRIENDS and Washington State Parks are working together to develop multiple shoreline projects on Sucia Island including: improving fish passage by reconnecting a salt marsh to the marine environment, unburying beach habitat at a newly documented surf smelt spawning beach and visitor interpretation on the important role Sucia’s shorelines play in supporting marine food webs for seabirds, salmon, and orca.

For more information on forage fish or FRIENDS restoration programs and volunteer opportunities for 2014/2015 please contact FRIENDS at tina [@] sanjuans [.] org or 360-378-2319.