Burning Patience by S.S.I.S. – Contributed image

World Premiere of Burning Patience, written and performed by the 5th, 6th and 7th Graders of Spring Street International School 2014

June 8th and 9th, 7:00 pm
San Juan Community Theatre

Here’s a note from Kate Small about this event…
Our Humanities class looks at the lives of teens in a given historical moment. We each adopt an identity drawn from a primary source document; in this case, tax records from feudal manors in England, kept in 1380. Each of us spends the school year creating a diary for a single life otherwise lost to history, based upon the data: name, date of birth, location, village, date of tax collection, and goods and services collected. Research into what feels like limited information, begins to reveal a richly detailed world, and over time, a very big story.

The generation of teenagers following the Black Death grew restless with the numb resignation of their parents, who had barely survived the holocaust of a global pandemic.

Our characters began the Peasant Revolution that signaled the death of European feudalism as well as the end of the 100 Years War with France. We try to walk a mile in their shoes and look at the world through their eyes. This play was created from our diaries. We dedicate it to the real children whose names we have carefully borrowed. Continue Reading

Guided walk with Dr. Julie Stein, Saturday at 10:00 am – Contributed photo

First, on Saturday –
The University of Washington’s Dr. Julie Stein will discuss archaeological investigations of ancient cultures at American Camp and San Juan Island in a guided walk scheduled 10 a.m., Saturday, June 7 at American Camp’s South Beach site.

The walk is free and meets at Alaska Packer’s Rock, located at the end of the gravel access road that parallels the beach. Attendees should plan to park in the main beach parking area at the end of Pickett’s Lane and walk to the meeting point.

As the walk will cover a portion of the prairie above the beach, walkers should wear sturdy, comfortable shoes.

Dr. Stein’s talk will focus on ancient life at South Beach, which included hunting and gathering, camping, several forms of fishing and cultivation of camas and other root foods. She also will discuss middens, or trash mounds, located in several areas along the beach that have remained remarkably in evidence over time.

The middens have revealed a picture of ancient life at American Camp going back as far as 8,000 years, according to Stein.

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Then on Sunday –
San Juan Island bird expert Barbara Jensen will give a guided nature walk beginning at 7:30 a.m., Sunday, June 8  at American Camp.

The walk is free and meets in the Visitor Center parking lot. Birders are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes and bring sun block. Disabled persons should contact the American Camp Visitor Center for trail access information.

Jensen is a former national park ranger and naturalist. This is her 18th season providing bird walks for the park. She is closely associated with the San Juan Island chapter of The Audubon. For learn more about The Audubon on San Juan go to http://www.sjiaudubon.org.

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For more information about park programming go to this link.

Nu Nu is Pet of the Week – Click for larger image – Contributed photo

Believe it or not, this handsome boy, “Nu-Nu”, or “Newt” as we call him, is still available with his brother, Mojo. These boys are about 4-years old and such great dogs.

They do not need to be adopted together, but wouldn’t mind if they did end up in the same home because they love to play ball and romp together.

Like most Labrador Retrievers they love the water and love to fetch. They walk beautifully on leash, but should not live in a home with cats. They seem to get along beautifully with other dogs.

Stop by the shelter to meet these boys!

Are you ready to defend your Island if a Wildland Fire occurs here? Take up the challenge – Take the class – Spend two weekends – Get certified

Here’s a call to action from SJI Fire/Rescue…

San Juan Island Fire Rescue is offering a free class for those who have ever wanted to answer the call to serve their Islands fighting wildland fires. The call is out.

The Wildland Firefighter 2 class will be held June 21st/22nd and June 28th/29th at the Mullis Street Fire Station. You must be 18 years of age or older (as long as you are physically capable of performing the tasks there is no maximum age limit). Both men and women are invited. Students will receive a physical examination-paid for by the fire district, all required safety gear, and be paid for their training hours.

Upon passing the training course, students will be awarded the nationally-recognized “Wildland Firefighter 2” certificate.
This class is an excellent prelude to taking the structural fire fighting classes held in the Fall. There has been many a structure saved on the island because of the quick actions of San Juan Island Fire Rescue Wildland fire fighters.

We are committed to protecting the residents and property of San Juan, Brown, and Pearl Islands. Wildland fire suppression is offered to San Juan County’s non-ferry served islands via a contract with the Department of Natural Resources.

Sign up NOW by contacting Brad Creesy, Assistant Chief/Training Officer at
training [@] sjifire [.] org or by contacting the headquarters at 1011 Mullis Street. (360) 378-5334.

A portion of the new Peace Path walking trail up by the hospital – Tim Dustrude photo

Please join us Thursday, June 5th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm and/or Friday, June 6th from 9:00 to 11:00 am, for a final spruce-up of the new Peace Path at the Peace Island Medical Center for its Grand Opening Ceremony on Saturday, June 7th at 1:00 pm.

Please bring clippers or loppers, gloves & water. Rakes & hoes will be provided.

Or just go on your own schedule. All help will be greatly appreciated as the path has quickly gotten overgrown! For more info or questions, Cinda Pierce,
cpiemna [@] rockisland [.] com

Don’t forget – it’s this coming Wednesday…

Donate blood and save a life! Walk-ins welcome. Donors with appointments have priority at registration. Photo ID required. Contact Curt Van Hyning for appointment 317-8399

Wednesday, June 4, 11:30 – 5:30 pm
Mullis Community Senior Center.

Click for larger poster

Remember – Its BBQ time! The last Community Dinner of the year is always the best!

We will serve in the High School Courtyard behind the Middle School and High School. Tables and chairs will be set up but feel free to grab a blanket and have a picnic on the lawn too.

It will be a busy night with Student’s Community Project Presentations in the classrooms, a Jazz Band Recital in the courtyard and the Art Walk-a-Bout in the hallways!

• Wednesday, June 4th 5:00-7:30
• Dinner will be served from 5:00- 7:30
• Presentations begin at 5:30

Suggested per plate donation of $12 for adults and $6 for kids under 12

The Menu:

• House-Smoked Baby Back Ribs
• BBQ Chicken
• Slow-Cooked Baked Beans
• Traditional Cole Slaw
• Caesar Salad
• Fresh Baked Garlic-Parmesan Rolls
• Watermelon Slices
• Lemonade
• Dessert is Strawberry Shortcake prepared by the Baking Class

Greg Hertel’s boat “Bee” tied up at Roger Bennett’s waterfront walk – Click to enlarge – Louise Dustrude photo

Contributing Update reporter Louise Dustrude covers the waterfront beat today…
Roger Bennett wanted a picture of a boat tied up at his Pier 1 building at the foot of Spring Street, and Greg Hertel loves messing about in boats, so the two got together Friday evening just before sunset and Roger got his picture. So did the Update.

Shannon enjoys the view down close to the water – Click to enlarge – Tim Dustrude photo

Roger has been working for some time now to create his part of a hoped-for and dreamed-of waterfront walk from the ferry dock to the Port office. You can walk his part now: down one side of the building, across the front, and back up the other side.

Greg keeps his boat, “Bee”, a 32-foot Grand Banks, at the Spring Street Landing marina in front of the building, and from there he takes passengers on sight-seeing cruises. He bought the boat and business in October, so his first season is just getting underway. It’s not a fast boat, so he doesn’t promise whale-watching; his niche is more “kick back and relax,” he says.

Check out Greg’s website: fridayharborcruises.com.

Here’s a photo from Captain Jim and an update from Captain Hobbes…

Transient orcas – Click to enlarge – Jim Maya photo

It’s been an epic week for seeing transient orcas, we even found the T49A’s right outside Friday Harbor, thanks to Capt. Jack, Mate Andy and the crew of the Evergreen State ferry. Humpback whales were also seen this week, this may be the “Humpback Come Back,” after we hunted them to near extinction, YES!

Sad news, seven harbor porpoises washed up dead on beaches around San Juan Island, this happened days after the Canadian Navy reported that they were using sonar. Unbelievable! But this information has not been confirmed, stay tuned. Other wildlife in the area includes seals, minke whales, porpoise, eagles and tons of seabirds. Cheers from the PWWA!

Capt. Hobbes Buchanan
San Juan Island Whale & Wildlife Tours

Captain Jim Maya
Maya’s Westside Whale Watch Charters

L-R: Commissioners Mark Schwinge, Keri Talbot, Michael Edwards, Lenore Bayuk, and Rosanna O’Donnell – Click to enlarge – Contributed photo

On May 28th, 2014 Keri Talbott, SJC Public Hospital District Commissioner, resigned from her elected position for family reasons. Her tenure, 7 years to the month, was with the greatest community insight and dedication to duty. The Hospital District appreciates all that she has done for our community during this time of pivotal change and enhancement of medical services for our San Juan County residents and visitors.

The Hospital District would also like to thank Jeremy Talbott, Keri’s husband, who served as a San Juan Island EMS EMT/Flight EMT and the EMS Marine Officer for 16 years total in these various roles. Our island community will greatly miss them both.

The Hospital District welcomes letters of interest (with qualifications), for filling the position of Commissioner Talbott, from interested and dedicated District residents with a due date of June 20th, 2014. These letters of interest will be reviewed by the SJCPHD #1 Commissioners prior to its scheduled meeting on June 25th, 2014 at which time candidates will be questioned prior to a vote.

Sunshine alley and the Brickworks building in the 50’s – 60’s – Click to enlarge – Contributed photo

Saturday, May 31st, 10am and 12:30pm, Boyd Pratt is doing a guided walking tour of historic Sunshine Alley. Meet at Brickworks.

The Town of Friday Harbor’s historic preservation program contracted with Boyd to research the history of the alley–because nothing about the alley had been documented, not even why it is called Sunshine Alley! Boyd has uncovered lots of interesting information about the neighborhood and the people associated with it. Finally we know why Web is spelled with one B and what it is named for, and how Nichols street got its name from the matriarch of the family largely responsible for the development pattern of the neighborhood. Boyd will explain why those three small houses are situated the way they are, and more.

As we look forward to the revitalization of the alley, it will be important to understand it, and to use this understanding to help identify what aspects of the alley are worth saving and rehabilitating, and what can start anew. Join Boyd for this hot-of-the-press (free!) guided tour and history talk. It is going to be a beautiful sunny day to go to the farmers market and take a walk through history.

This tour is part of History Lives Here! heritage month 2014, an annual series of events coordinated and promoted by the Town of Friday Harbor’s historic preservation program.

Local artist and teacher Daniel LoBue will be opening his studio to the public. Daniel specializes in fine art and functional ceramics. As a special feature Daniel will be holding a Kiln Opening on Saturday morning at 10.30 am, giving people the opportunity to purchase his ceramic work direct from the kiln!

Other open studios include Friday Harbor Tile and Cynthia Church.

Surina Business Park, 50 Malcom Street, Friday Harbor.

More details on this event can be found at their Facebook event page.

Tie-Dye is fun for the whole family – Contributed photo

Island Rec will be having a free Tie-Dye Booth at the Farmer’s Market, Saturday, June 7th, from 10:00-1:00 pm. Bring a white t-shirt, or anything else you want to tie-dye for free.

We will have a wide selection of shirts, some bags, hats and baby onesies available for purchase at a low cost if you don’t have blank items.

Check out all of Island Rec’s events at www.islandrec.org, stop by Island Rec at 580 Guard Street, or call us at 378-4953.

Cycling Sojourner by Ellee Thalheimer

The Update received an advance copy of this book directly from the publisher and was asked to review it so here again is guest contributor and avid cyclist Shannon Dean…

This is a compact travel guide with bite-sized information for bicyclists wanting to tour in Washington State. It is very easy to navigate to whatever area you are interested in and find information specific to that location.

For each area featured, the author includes suggested itineraries, maps, elevations, suggested places for eating, lodging and camping as well as “extracurricular activities” and many useful websites particular to the area.

Making bicycle touring accessible to anyone, she begins with “Which Tour is Right for You?” to get you started. She also highlights all of the unique, fun little “must-do’s” as if she’s telling you a secret.

This is a must-have guide if you are interested in cycling in Washington, including the San Juans.

The 1st Annual Dodie Gann Memorial Dog Walk is coming up on May 31st – Contributed photo

The Animal Protection Society, Friday Harbor announces it will host “The First Annual Dodie Gann Memorial Dog Walk”, Saturday, May 31, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The walk will start and finish at Skagit Valley College.

Well-behaved dogs and their people will enjoy a scenic walk along the airport trail to the animal shelter and back, approximately one mile. Water and snack stations will be available for people and pooches along the way and participants are invited to enjoy a “Pet Lovers Fair” throughout the event at the college, featuring vendors and service providers from the pet care industry. A delicious, no-host lunch will be available as well after the walk.

Participants are encouraged to get sponsors for the walk, and a grand prize of an iPad mini ($300 value) will be awarded to the person who collects the highest sponsorship amount. Registration and sponsorship forms will be available at the animal shelter, as well as at event co-sponsors, Friday Harbor Pet Supplies and The Barking Bird beginning May 5. Entry fees are $10 for children 12 & under and $20 for everyone else.

Long-time island resident, Dodie Gann was a founding member of The Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor and remained an active supporter and board member until her death in 2013.

Popular Barbershop Bonanza Returns June 1

A 45-member choir from British Columbia, a Northwest quartet with a combined 150 years of barbershop singing and San Juan Island’s own barbershop masters share their a cappella talents at San Juan Community Theatre on Sunday, June 1 at 2:00 p.m.

Celebrating its 16th year in Friday Harbor, Barbershop Bonanza honors this uniquely American music with contemporary and old-time favorites full of four-part harmonies.

Directed by Angel Michaels, the Bonanza is hosted by San Juan’s mixed barbershop chorus, Island Chordsmen Plus and features the island’s local women’s a cappella ensemble, Sound Vibrations.

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