Posted July 31, 2014 at 5:40 am by Tim Dustrude
Join in on the fun with F.O.L.K.S. and be included in a historical aerial photo being taken to celebrate National Lighthouse Day.
There will be free lighthouse tours, a musical performance by local musician James Taylor, and picnic foods available from Red Checkered Picnics.
Thursday, August 7th at Lime Kiln Point State Park, from 7:00 pm to sunset
Posted July 31, 2014 at 5:30 am by Tim Dustrude
Nature Journaling classes from 10:00 am to 12 noon at the Sculpture Park, Roche Harbor. Alice Hibberd will lead explorations in the park and teach young learners 5-8 years old how to record observations in their personal nature journal.
Cost is $20.00 per class.
Register by calling 378-3646. Limited to 12 participants.
Saturday August 2nd and 23rd
Posted July 30, 2014 at 5:59 am by Tim Dustrude
J-38, “Alki” as seen from Whale Watch Park on Monday – Sherrie Stahl photo
Here’s a beautiful photo by Sherrie Stahl, shot from shore at Whale Watch Park on Monday the 28th. Sherrie went to the park in the morning only to find she had just missed a pod heading South and another heading North, but she hung around and waited and waited and waited, and was finally rewarded handsomely for her patience. Check out her Flickr photo stream to see what all she shot that day, it’s quite impressive. Thank you for sharing your photos Sherrie!
Posted July 30, 2014 at 5:50 am by Tim Dustrude
Join renowned Washington State storyteller Karen Haas for an hour of first-person history with “So Many Things to Do Yet: The Saga of Thea Foss,” scheduled for 8:15 pm, Thursday July 31 at the San Juan Island Library.
Thea Foss was born in Norway. She arrived in Tacoma with her husband Andrew in 1889. Starting with a used rowboat, they built a maritime empire. Karen portrays Thea in 1912, the year of the first Foss tugboat. She reflects back on her life and looks forward to the future. At a time when few women could, Thea Foss took her place in a “man’s world”, always believing “we are members of one great body… we were born for the good of the whole”. Like other immigrants, she added her experiences to the rich blend that is Washington.
Haas enjoys both telling in “modern times” and bringing the past to life with living history presentations through the Washington state Humanities Commission’s Inquiring Mind series. She is well known for her effervescent style, which engages emotions, from the sublime to the ridiculous, in audiences both young and old. Continue Reading
Posted July 30, 2014 at 5:41 am by Tim Dustrude
Samuel Morse Telegraph Key – Contributed photo
San Juan Island has had its communications problems in recent months, but not for the first time. Learn how and when the first telegraph came to San Juan Island, as well as its context nationwide in the mid-1800s, in an illustrated talk with Park Ranger Doug Halsey scheduled for 7 pm, Wednesday, August 6 at the San Juan Island Library.
“It is said that no innovation affected the world more, after the printed word, than the telegraph” Halsey said. “When President Lincoln, ironically a great supporter of the telegraph, was assassinated and then died early on the morning of April 15, 1865 in Washington D.C., news of the event reached San Francisco, Portland and Seattle within hours by telegraph.”
On the local scene, word of Kaiser Wilhelm I’s decision regarding the disposition of the San Juan Islands on October 24, 1872 arrived in Victoria a day after Wilhelm spoke the words in Berlin, Halsey said. Communication with the East Coast had gone from overland wagons to swift clipper ships, from overland stagecoach to steamship and rail passage via the Isthmus of Panama. The famous Pony Express briefly accelerated communication starting in 1860, but was put out of business on Oct. 24, 1861, the day the first transcontinental telegraph was completed. Continue Reading
Posted July 30, 2014 at 5:40 am by Tim Dustrude
Here’s a note from Kathy Dolsen about the picnic the San Juan Singers are putting on next week…
Come enjoy a picnic with the San Juan Singers – Contributed photo
I was hoping that you might help us get out the word about our event happening next week. We’re trying to reach out to the community to get new recruits. Thanks so much, Kathy.
San Juan Singers Summer Picnic
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Mullis Center, at 5:00 pm
This is a potluck event so bring your favorite summer recipe and be prepared for some good eats and fun. Also, it’s a family event so bring someone you know that is interested in singing with us. We are always recruiting! We look forward to seeing you all to recap our successful season and discuss the one that is before us. Questions? Call Nancy Sheplor at 378-3589
Posted July 30, 2014 at 5:21 am by Tim Dustrude
Here’s a note from Boyd Pratt about the Ag Corner, coming up at this year’s Fair…
Vegetables grown on San Juan Island – Tim Dustrude photo
Farm-tastic Fun at the Ag Corner at the San Juan County Fair
The SJC Fair Agriculture Exhibit (a.k.a. the Ag Corner) is the place to be to learn all about San Juan County Agriculture. Located next to Fruits and Vegetables in the NW corner of the Main Building, the Ag Corner is the place to learn about local farms and farm products.
Demonstrations
Come experience instructive demonstrations by our very own Master gardeners. Can I eat that flower that’s on my plate? What the heck is Bio Char? How can I eat seasonally or save my seeds? And what are all those bees doing buzzing around my garden?
O Taste and See our daily Cooking With Local Foods presentations on all the delicious ways to prepare local foods, with local chefs and cooks Ann Nelson, Deb Nolan, Jan Sandberg & Jen Black, and Cynthia Burke.
Exhibits
Curious about agriculture in San Juan County? Here’s the place to find out! Check out the latest census data on agriculture in the San Juans and the role farmers’ markets play in the county’s economy. Find out more about local groups involved in island agriculture: Island grown in the San Juans, San Juan Islands Conservation District, San Juan County Agricultural Resource Committee, San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild, and WSU Extension. Local farms will display their products, from herbs to honey and veggies to wool. And there’ll be some fascinating history on old island farms and barns.
The Ag Corner is also the home of the Grains & Forage Department. Bring your entries and come see all the grain and forage crops that can be grown in San Juan County!
Posted July 29, 2014 at 7:35 pm by Tim Dustrude
M/V Tacoma, a Jumbo Mark II class Washington State Ferry – WSF photo
The M/V Tacoma, a Jumbo Mark II ferry on the Seattle-Winslow route, lost power today just outside of Eagle Harbor on its way to Bainbridge Island and began drifting toward the beach. The M/V Sealth, which was on the Seattle-Bremerton route, was diverted to assist the Tacoma and with a tow-line, pulled the Tacoma away from the beach until the Lindsey Foss and the Pacific Knight, a couple of large Foss tugs arrived and towed the Tacoma to the dock at Winslow.
Read more at KOMO News.com.
Posted July 29, 2014 at 3:59 pm by Peggy Sue McRae
Judy Bridges Demonstrates Weaving – Contributed Photo
Weavers from throughout San Juan Island and Washington State will gather for the weekend to demonstrate how European and American Indian techniques melded to create woven objects and clothing unique to the Pacific Northwest.
Cowlitz Nation weaver Judy Bridges and renowned Washington State storyteller Karen Haas will join San Juan Islanders Roger Ellison and Anita Barreca, plus island spinners and weavers to show how it was done with all-natural fibers, including wild reeds.
Weaving is a common element across many cultures from Eurasia to the Americas, Bridges said. The location of a culture determines the type of creations its members will make.
While white settlers used natural resources in some aspects of their lives, American Indian relied almost entirely on what was at hand, especially the cedar tree, known to them as the “tree of life.” Continue Reading
Posted July 29, 2014 at 5:59 am by Tim Dustrude
Patos Island beach and sunset – Tim Dustrude photo
Believe it or not, that’s Patos Island lighthouse all the way up at the end of the island there. This was shot from the beach on the north side of Patos at the eastern end about 2 weeks ago. This is what happens when you play in your own back yard. We almost vacationed in Cleveland, but decided to stay here instead…
Posted July 29, 2014 at 5:55 am by Tim Dustrude
Click to enlarge poster
There are still tickets available for this year’s APS Wags to Riches ‘Dog Days of Summer’ event on Sunday August 3rd. The Friday Harbor Animal Shelter will be celebrating its 10th annual Wags to Riches fundraising event, and this year it will be hosted again by Bob & Lissa McDowell on their beautiful estate on Hannah Road.
The APS staff and volunteers have put together another great event with live music, silent and live auctions, raffles, libations and great food provided by Celtic Cowboy BBQ of Edmonds, WA, (rated one of the top 5 ‘Best in the Northwest’ bbq restaurants). Live music will be provided by Kubatana Marimba and the J-Bots.
There will be some very exciting news shared with the community about the future of the shelter as well. The event is held from noon – 4:00 pm on the spacious McDowell estate under big, beautiful white tents for plenty of shade, if needed. Seating is limited and tickets will not be available at the gate, so purchase your tickets now by calling the shelter at 378-2158.
The shelter is also holding a great raffle with three fantastic prizes which include a weekend getaway to Seabrook on the Washington Coast, $500 in gas cards from Petro San Juan, and the grand prize… two luxury seat tickets on the 50 yard line to the Seahawks / Cowboys game on Oct 12th at CenturyLink field with a night stay at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle! Raffle tickets are only $5 each and can be purchased from the shelter by visiting or calling 378-2158.
The raffle drawing will happen at the WAGS event. All proceeds from the event and the raffle benefit the animals at the Friday Harbor Animal Shelter. This year’s WAGS is being sponsored by Friday Harbor Pet Supplies, Islanders’ Insurance, Nate’s Automotive, Petro San Juan, Islanders Bank, Windermere Real Estate, Whidbey Island Bank and Roche Harbor Resort.
Posted July 29, 2014 at 5:45 am by Tim Dustrude
Click to enlarge – Contributed image
Here is the plan for proposed improvements to the Sunshine Alley area, which was put together by Beckwith and Associates, a consulting firm from La Conner which was hired by the Town to offer up ideas on how to improve this central downtown area. All of these proposals and ideas are based on ideas gathered from local people & businesses during several brainstorming and planning meetings held at Brickworks a number of times earlier this year.
As it stands right now, these ideas are the draft plan which still needs to go to the Town Council. After they have “weighed in”, there will be a public hearing on the plan.
You can view the plan drawings and notes at this link (PDF).
(as you’re looking at the drawings in the PDF document, keep in mind that topography was not included in the street views – this would have required a LOT more computing power than time allowed, so you won’t see the street sloping downhill on “A” street toward the ferry lanes, etc… It’s all flat on the drawings, so you’ll need to use some imagination 🙂
Posted July 29, 2014 at 5:36 am by Tim Dustrude
Yes you can, Can – Contributed image
Yes you can, can …and pickle, and preserve, and dry or ferment all the fruits and vegetables you’ve harvested this summer. Then, take those items to the SJC Pomona Grange Food Preservation Booth at the “Farmtastic Fun” County Fair for the chance to win some wonderful prizes
This year prizes for Best of Class in the following categories will be presented to the winners:
Each “Best of Class” winner will also receive a special rosette ribbon. The overall “Best of Show” winner will receive a large rosette and a special Best of Show prize.
So, gather those fruits and vegetables and get busy canning. Drop off your entries at the Food Preservation Booth on Tuesday, August 12th, beginning at 10:00 am. Fun and prizes await you in the Food Preservation Booth at this year’s Farmtastic Fun County Fair.
Posted July 29, 2014 at 5:35 am by Tim Dustrude
Develop your connection to San Juan Island and enhance your experiences of local nature and heritage.
Gail Richard – Contributed photo
Interpreters of nature and heritage help us make the personal meaningful links to our experiences at nature and heritage sites. In this session Gail Richard, Interpreter of Nature and Heritage will bring to life the uniqueness of San Juan Island and will help you make your own connection. You will leave with a stronger sense of purpose in your exploration of this special part of the world.
August 7th at Lavendera Day Spa
285 Spring Street
7:00 – 8:30pm
Posted July 29, 2014 at 5:35 am by Tim Dustrude
Celebrate Trails on Sunday, Aug. 3rd with an EXTRA Know Your Island Walk, and enjoy some local snacks when we reach this historic house – John Dustrude photo
This special walk is to Celebrate Trails and walk with National Park Superintendent, Lee Taylor, on the Westcott Bay Trail, and we will be stopping to meet the new owners of the Westcott Bay Shellfish Company, Andrea and Erik Anderson.
If you missed the February walk, in rain and 35-degree weather, now’s your chance to walk with Lee! She will tell us of the new improvements to this trail and its history.
Before the return trip, we will stop at the Westcott Bay House to enjoy delicious refreshments from local folks: Kari Koski, Angel Michaels, and Felicity Milne.
Meet and park at English Camp main parking lot. Terrain is wooded park trail, rating is moderate, 3 miles round-trip. No dogs please. For more information, visit www.sanjuanislandtrails.org.
Sunday, August 3rd
2:00 to 5:00 pm
Posted July 28, 2014 at 8:01 pm by Tim Dustrude
Click for full size poster
Mary Kate Berger needs our support as she battles breast cancer. Enjoy a great Mexican Feast of pulled pork or veggie burritos, provided by Abe Gutierrez; rock out with Carl Blake and Friends; try your luck with some great raffle items; participate in a Silent Auction for some cool stuff donated by your fellow islanders and businesses; and just relish in that good feeling you’ll have inside while hangin’ with your fellow islanders, knowing that you’re doing right for one of our own.
It all happens on Saturday, August 9th from 5-9pm at the American Legion basement in Friday Harbor. Dinner will be served from 5-7pm and the live music goes from 7-9pm.
If you can’t make it to this event, you can still help out by donating to Mary Kate’s fund which is set up at Islander’s Bank.