Don’t forget – today is the last day to register – Reservations are required prior to July 3…

San Juan Island Garden Club is hosting an excursion – Whatcom Horticultural Society Bellingham Garden Tour

The tour has 6 gardens available for touring. All are within the Bellingham city area. We will view a minimum of 3 gardens hopefully 4 as time permits.

Reservations required prior to July 3, 2014.

• Date: July 12th – Depart on the 8:05 ferry
• Cost: $42.00 – Mainland transportation and ticket
• Additional cost: Ferry ticket (Purchase return passenger ticket prior to departure)
• Lunch – a stop at Haggens or Winco
• Return to Friday Harbor on the 4:45 boat

SJI Garden Club

Theresa Hill – thill355 [@] yahoo [.] com – 378-2447
Vonnie Harold – yeharold [@] rockisland [.] com – 378-6250

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) is looking for survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault who would like to tell their story through art.

DVSAS would like to display these (non judged) works of art at our Fair Booth this year. We believe in healing through art and would like to give survivors the opportunity to tell their stories through their preferred medium. The Artist’s name may remain confidential if they wish.

If you would like to participate in “Our Stories” the Survivor’s Art Gallery, please contact us at 378-8680, Monday – Thursday, 10-5.

San Juan Healthcare Fall 2014 Sports Physical Clinics will be on August 5th, 7th & 12th.

Cost is $35.00 at time of appointment. Please call the office to schedule your appointment at 378-1338

Mandatory Sports Physical paperwork is available on the Patient Forms page on our website or by stopping by our office.
Please bring your completed form to your appointment.

San Juan Healthcare
689 Airport Center, Ste B
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
www.sanjuanhealthcare.org

The Presbyterian Church wants you to know they still have some room if you or someone you know has special needs for the parade…

Fourth of July Parade Reserved Seating for those with special needs
The Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church deacons will set up reserved seating in front of the church for seniors and those with special needs. The restroom facilities inside the church and at 395 Spring St. (house next door to the church) are handicapped accessible and will be available. Chairs with “Reserved” written on them will be placed along the sidewalk. Spaces will be available for wheelchairs also. Please call the church office with your name and number of guests needing reserved seating for the parade. 378-4544

And not only that, but they will also be holding a 4th of July bake sale in front of the church as well, before and during the parade from 9:00 to 11:30 am to raise money for the 2014 middle school Mission Trip to Nez Perce.

Elusive Slug-Eating Snake Found on San Juan Island – Click to enlarge – Contributed photo

Here’s a cool story shared by Doug McCutchen of the Land Bank…

A San Juan Island couple, Maria Michaelson and Eben Shay have recorded the first documented sighting of the Sharp-tailed Snake on San Juan Island when their cat brought it home last Thursday evening. “It was a totally lucky find,” said Michaelson. “We had just learned about the snakes the day before and we were determined to find one, but didn’t expect for it to happen so quickly and certainly not this way.” The snake was carefully collected and will be donated to the University of Washington’s Burke Museum.

Sharp-tailed snakes are a small, secretive species that is presumed to be closely associated with Garry oak ecosystems. Less than five percent of Garry oak habitat remains from its historic extent which account in part for why the snakes are so infrequently encountered. The snakes, which specialize in eating slugs, spend almost all of their time undercover, in rotting logs, and possibly underground. They are smoother in appearance than the resident garter snakes and have grey/brown/reddish coloration with a sharp thorn-like scale at the end of their tale. Sharp-tailed snakes are non-venomous and very docile. Continue Reading

A Red Cross emergency response vehicle delivers food and water to searchers and emergency workers at the scene of the mudslide near Oso, Washington – Click to enlarge – Keith Acree/American Red Cross photo

Here’s an update from the American Red Cross on relief efforts at the Oso Mudslide…

As survivors struggled to come to grips with their losses in the days following the mudslide, more than 500 Red Cross workers and volunteers—half from Washington State—were by their side, providing comfort and relief items, as well as over 8,500 health and mental health contacts for those affected. And as residents move on from the immediate aftermath, Red Cross caseworkers are coordinating with local officials and the affected individuals and families to determine how to best meet the short and longer-term needs of those who lost so much.

Continue reading the entire report at this link (pdf).

Free Lavender Farm Tours this summer – Contributed photo

Here’s a note from the Lavender Farm…

Summer Greetings to All!

We are all in the full summer swing, aren’t we?! The “purple haze” has begun in the fields. It’s looking like we are on target for being in full-bloom for the Lavender Festival!

This year the Lavender Festival is Saturday and Sunday, July 19-20. Its FREE and all the details are at this link.

We are starting something new this year – FREE Farm Tours!
During July and August join us for a guided walking tour of the farm with Pelindaba Lavender Farm’s owner/founder Stephen Robins.

Fridays – 11am & 2pm
Saturday – 2pm
Sunday – 11am & 2pm

The tours are FREE and no reservation is needed. We suggest arriving at the farm 15 minutes before the tour starts. The tour schedule commences July 4th, so be sure to let your 4th of July weekend guests know that they can come out to the farm for a free tour.

Here’s to a great summer for all!
————————–
Amelia Powell Baggett
Pelindaba Lavender

Science Fun Storytime at the Library – Click to enlarge – Contributed photo

Fizz, Boom! Science Fun Storytimes Are Underway at the San Juan Island Library!

Get out your lab coats, Lil’ Einsteins, because this summer the library’s youth services team is hosting Science Fun Storytimes on Friday mornings at 10:30 AM.

Each Science Fun Storytime will include scientific investigation through stories and activities that range from simple demonstrations and sculpting projects to sensory exploration.

This week the kiddos learned about ice freezing and melting and they made their very own colorful ice sculptures using ice, water, salts, and water colors.

The next Science Fun Storytime, Fizz, Boom, Green Slime! is Friday, July 11 at the library. The program is free and appropriate for toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school students.

Science Fun Storytimes are part of the San Juan Island Library’s Summer Reading Program: Fizz, Boom, Read! and include learning concepts based on S.T.E.A.M. or Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. For more information, please call 378-2798 or stop by the library today at 1010 Guard Street. San Juan Island Library: Discover Life’s Possibilities!

The eighth annual Firecracker 5000 is all set to go for this Friday, July 4. The route will remain the same, beginning at the Friday Harbor Suites, 680 Spring Steet. The course is for anyone wanting to start the Holiday off with a little exercise and features some of the islands flattest terrain, except for the hills.

On-site registration begins at 7:00 a.m. and ends at 7:45 a.m., race starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. $10 per adult and $5 for kids under 16. A portion of the proceeds will go to support the Friday Harbor fireworks display.

Special thanks to Friday Harbor Suites, Kings Market and San Juan Island Fitness. For more information, contact San Juan Island Fitness at 378-4449.

Route is: Start from Friday Harbor Suites, down Price Street to Park Street, up to Marguerite, then out and back on Lampard Rd, and back to FH Suites.

The Path to the Cove by Nancy Spaulding – Click to enlarge

Join San Juan Island artist Nancy Spaulding to learn how she utilizes photography and sketching on site during an artist workshop scheduled for 2:00 pm, Saturday, July 12 meeting in the American Camp parking area.

Nancy’s workshop is for all levels of experience. Bring paper, pen, pencil, or pastels, a digital camera, sturdy shoes and a sunhat (if necessary). A second workshop designed to revisit work form the first is scheduled same time and place on August 16.

A formal art education was the plan but Nancy left the University of Arizona shortly before earning her degree in order to join the domestic peace corps. She served as a VISTA Volunteer to two years. Following that experience she kept up with her hands on approach to art and has managed to continue working as an artist over the years and into the present time.

Nancy and her husband Lewis, social worker turned artist, spent 25 years as serigraphers, each developing their own distinctive style. Their hand pulled silk screen prints were accepted into many well-known juried art shows and fairs throughout western United States. They were able to support themselves and their family on the art circuit. Continue Reading

Here is a brief write-up on each of the seven winners of the 2014 Good Stewardship Awards from the Stewardship Network of the San Juans… Continue Reading

Vote counting equipment testing for the August Primary

A “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used in San Juan County is scheduled for 11:00 am on July 11th. The test works by tallying the results of a prepared set of ballots to see if the results match the votes cast. The test will take place in the Elections Office located at 55 Second Street, Suite A, in Friday Harbor.

A representative of the Secretary of State’s Elections Division will be present for the test. The test is performed before every local, state or federal election to ensure that tabulation hardware and software equipment are compliant with Washington State rules and will accurately count the votes.

All interested members of the public are invited to observe.

The Brass Patriots open up this year’s Music on the Lawn free concert series – Contributed photo

The first concert in this year’s Music on the Lawn Concert Series features the Brass Patriots.

Island Rec’s “Bring Em’ Back” concert series is part of our 30th anniversary celebration. The bands were all ‘people’s choice’ winners from previous years.
133D Army Band’s Brass Patriots play tunes ranging from The Beatles to John Williams, Patriotic to Funk. Come sing along and tap your feet, or if the mood strikes… get up and dance! The group is comprised of 15 citizen soldiers from across the great State of Washington, stationed at Camp Murray, Tacoma and is led by Sergeant First Class Alton Huckaby.

July 9th from 6:30 to 8:15 pm
San Juan Island Historical Museum
405 Price Street

Go to www.islandrec.org or call Island Rec at 378-4953 for more information. Bring a picnic diner, blankets or lawn chairs. Pets and alcohol are not permitted. Sponsored by IPS, Islander’s Insurance and FANS, (Families and Neighbors Support Island Rec.)

Thollem McDonas – Contributed photo

Internationally-known pianist/composer/teacher Thollem McDonas presents:
“Active Listening: Participating in the Present Moment”

BRICKWORKS on Sunday, June 27th, 1:00 – 3:30pm Admission is FREE

This is a workshop open to anyone with a desire to enhance their experience and health through a greater awareness of their sense of hearing and the point our bodies connect with the sonic world around us. Thollem leads the participants through exercises that emphasize active listening and eventually participation with the sounds of the environment. This is a workshop that is beneficial to both experienced musicians as well as those that have never played an instrument and everyone in between.

Thollem McDonas is a pianist, composer, improviser and teacher. He travels perpetually internationally performing as a soloist as well as in collaboration with a wide array of artists in wildly divergent directions. In the past 7 years, he has added 35 albums to his discography on 15 different vanguard labels. He was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area of Irish and Cherokee descent. Continue Reading

The Sunshine Alley open house originally scheduled at Brickworks on Wednesday July 2nd has been rescheduled to Wednesday July 23rd in order to avoid conflicts with the 4th of July holiday activities and be able to accommodate as many interested parties as possible.

The rescheduled open house will begin at Brickworks at 6 pm with a formal presentation of the final design, cost estimates, and other implementation particulars at 6:15 pm followed by a discussion and review with all interested parties.

Please plan to attend so that we can incorporate your suggestions.

Friday Harbor Film Festival Volunteers!

It’s getting closer – The Fourth of July parade, that is! We still need your happy, smiling faces to walk along side us during the parade.

Show up in your volunteer t-shirts from last year or any other Friday Harbor Film Festival gear you have and walk in the parade and hand out candy. Another email will be sent out to those who do sign up to volunteer giving all the details for the event. Or just show up and join us!

To sign up to volunteer please email Friday Harbor Film Festival at
volunteers [@] fhff [.] org stating you would like to volunteer for the Fourth of July parade, as well as giving your name and contact info. We are looking forward to working with our amazing volunteers once again!

Lights, Camera, ACTION!
Carol Maas, Volunteer Coordinator,
FRIDAY HARBOR FILM FESTIVAL
PO Box 2627, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-298-1939
volunteers [@] fhff [.] org