The bluff below Cattle Point Road at American Camp with South Beach beyond. Note the location of the guard rail at upper right – NPS Photo

San Juan Islanders can view the latest design, ask questions and provide comments for the Cattle Point Road Realignment project during an open house scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Monday April 21 at the Mullis Center, 589 Nash St., in Friday Harbor.

The open house, conducted by San Juan County, will also include representatives from the Federal Highways Administration, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the National Park Service. These agencies are working closely to finalize design so that the project can proceed in 2015.

Approximately 500 feet of the Cattle Point Road, located within the park, is threatened by coastal erosion. Without intervention the roadway is likely to collapse within 12 years. This would cut off access to federal and state land as well neighborhoods at the east end of the Cattle Point peninsula.

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) selected Alternative B: Hybrid Mid-Slope Realignment as the preferred alternative. The road will be realigned between Pickett’s Lane and Cattle Point following a glacial terrace north of the existing roadway.

Friday Harbor Elementary School welcomes the Kindergarten class of 2014-2015! Registration for next year’s Kindergarten class will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 22nd and 23rd in the school office. Parents who wish to enroll their children for the 2014-2015 Kindergarten session should call the school to set an appointment. To be eligible, students must be five years of age by August 31, 2014. Please call the elementary school at 378-5209 ext. 1 to make an appointment.

Please bring your child’s birth certificate and immunization records. If needed, birth certificates may be obtained at the San Juan County Health Department. Their number is 378-4474.

K-Pod Returns – Click for larger image – Captain Hobbes photo

Here’s a photo Captain Hobbes sent over on Sunday. He says K-Pod returned. Thanks for the awesome photo Hobbes!

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The annual Flea and Craft Market is coming up on Saturday, April 26th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

If you haven’t already, and if you have some stuff to sell, now would be a good time to get in touch with them over at the Fair office and tell them you want a booth.

378-4310 or send an email to
info [@] sjcfair [.] org

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Come One, Come All!
Whether you’re young or old, or somewhere in between, there’s an important clean up task that will fit you perfectly. Bring a pair of work gloves with you and we’ll supply tools and snacks. No matter how much or little time you have, it will be greatly appreciated!

Sunday, April 27, 10:00 am til 2:00 pm. Meet at Lime Kiln Park (Whale Watch Park) interpretive center.

Linda Burner Augustine – Contributed photo

Spring and Summer Dinner Inspiration with Linda Burner Augustine, Friday, April 25th

This culinary event is presented by the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild as part of its ongoing Live Life Well: Culinary Education Series.

Join Linda as she demonstrates recipes from her seasonally based cooking blog “A Year at the Table” and her recently published “The Crimson Spoon Cookbook.” Enjoy tasting her recipes while learning valuable cooking tips, shortcuts, and strategies. Tickets to this event are $60/per person and include sample portions of each recipe and wine. Event starts at 5:30pm and space is limited, so reserve your plate today by contacting Tanja Williamson at 360-472-0337.

The Culinary Education Series will provide various learning experiences with guest chefs, cookbook authors, restauranteurs and other local gastronomes. These events will be regular, intimate and interactive classes, workshops and dining events.

Please click here for a copy of the event flyer with a fuller description, or contact Tanja Williamson at 360-472-0337 or
tanja [@] fhbrickworks [.] com

Cynthia Burke is happy to bring a NIA workshop to XYZ movement arts. Sommer will be leading the workshop being held on April 26th from 2:00 to 4:30 PM. Please contact Sommer at
sommer [@] islandjoywellness [.] com or (425) 891-7264 to register. More info at this link (PDF).

Deadline has been extended so register by April 21st please!

Additional Measles Exposure Dates

Currently there are a total of six (6) cases of measles on San Juan Island, a Kitsap County resident diagnosed with measles was contagious during his stay in Friday Harbor, and one additional case is under investigation. Current information indicates that exposures in Friday Harbor took place as late as April 8th at numerous locations. This means local residents could develop symptoms from this outbreak as late as April 29, 2014.

If you become infected, the symptoms of measles will be present 7-21 days after exposure. Symptoms are high fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and a rash of tiny, red spots that starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body. Measles is especially dangerous for children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, and immunocompromised persons.

If you are feeling sick and think you may have the measles DO NOT come to the Health Department or your medical provider without calling first. If you think you have measles you will be asked to wear a mask and may be conducted to a special room for examination.

Remember CALL FIRST before going to your health care provider or the Health Department.

Most adults born before 1957 have had measles and can be considered to be immune. If you have questions about measles you can call San Juan Health and Community Services at 378-4474.

John T. Manning, Director
Health & Community Services
San Juan County
(360) 378-4474

Here’s the lowdown on the two biggest annual Easter Egg Hunts on the island…

Easter Sunday at Jackson’s Beach – Update file photo

Jackson’s Beach –
It’s coming; the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Jackson’s Beach sponsored by the San Juan County Fire & Rescue Association. It will be held at 1:00 pm on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014. There will be lots of eggs and prizes too. The Ladder Fire Engine 317 will be there AND The Easter Bunny is expected to pay a visit.
Please bring a can of food for the Food Bank.

The age groups will be

• 0-3 yrs.
• 4-6yrs.
• 7-9 yrs.
• 10-12 yrs.

There will be plastic eggs hidden among the real eggs (no more than 2 per child).
Bring the plastic eggs to the prize table to redeem them for a prize.

Egg dyeing will take place at the old Town Fire Station, across from King’s Market, on Friday the 18th at 5 PM. Be there or be square!

And Roche Harbor –
The Easter Bunny is coming to Roche Harbor!

Please join us for our Easter weekend. The following events will be available for your enjoyment.

• Saturday, April 19th
  1:00 pm – Help us dye eggs!
  You are invited to help us dye Easter eggs on the Roche Harbor Marina Party Barge. The Easter Bunny has left all his eggs for us to dye.
• Sunday, April 20th
  9:30 am – Easter Mass at Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel.
  12:30 pm – The Easter Bunny Arrives!
  Please come and welcome him, he wants to wish you a Happy Easter!
  1:00 pm – The Easter Egg Hunts Begin!
  Prizes will be given to whoever finds the Gold and the Silver Eggs.

Age Groups and hunt locations are as follows:

• Up to 3 years – The Rose Garden
• 4 years to 6 years – The Formal Garden
• 7 years to 11 years – The Pavilion Courtyard

Thanks for spending your Easter at Roche Harbor Resort!

Click for larger image – Captain David Howitt photo

Here’s a great “welcome to Monday morning” photo for you by Captain David Howitt of some orcas in Friday Harbor. Thanks for sharing David!

Four local women were honored by Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor this week at their Annual Notable Women’s Luncheon. The event highlights the work of the “Best for Women Committee” which begins its process of soliciting applications or nomination in the fall of each year.

The Violet Richardson Award (named for the founder of Soroptimists) goes to a girl aged 14 to 17 for community service. This year’s winner is Lenora Johnson, (shown at left) a student at Spring Street International School, for her work as a volunteer firefighter and her commitment to fire safety education. Lenora received $750 that she said will go into her college fund. She is graduating from high school this year and headed to WSU this fall.

The Ruby Award goes to a woman who gives service to help women and girls. The recipient is Madi McPadden, a 21-year old student at the University of Washington, majoring in Social Welfare. She works at Plymouth House of Healing in Seattle, which provides homeless and mental health services. Madi also worked in New Zealand with the Salvation Army, assisting a group of women with disabilities for ten weeks. Madi’s mother Maureen McNally accepted the $750 award on her behalf.

Heidi Evans (left) is the recipient of the Fellowship Award, a scholarship for post graduate study. Heidi grew up on San Juan Island and worked her way through college by working on the docks at Roche Harbor, obtaining her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. Her goal is to become a teacher. She recently purchased Alphabet Soup, a child care center in Friday Harbor, and she is now pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Heidi told the Soroptimists that “the scholarships help more than you would ever believe”. She received $3,000 towards her education.

Linda Degnan Cobos received this year’s Women’s Opportunity Award, which is Soroptimist’s signature program. It is a $4,000 financial award to help a woman who is the primary breadwinner of her family with educational expenses. Linda is pursuing an Associate of Technical Arts degree in Marine Technology from Skagit Valley College in Anacortes, and maintaining a 4.0 GPA while also helping with her family’s dry-walling business.

Linda gave an inspiring talk about the variety of jobs she has had, breaking ground for women in several fields. She’s worked as a dump truck driver and commercial fisher, and as a garage supervisor in Yosemite National Park. She recalled as a kid, before Title IX, she was admitted into a drafting class that she wanted to take, and then told that she’d have to give up her seat in the class when a male student wanted it. She encouraged others to go for their dreams and quoted, “You can’t cross oceans unless you stop staring at the shore.”

Pilot and author Philip Donlay is making a return engagement to Griffin Bay Bookstore on Saturday afternoon, April 19, from 2:00 — 4:00 pm to showcase his latest novel, Deadly Echoes, the fourth Donovan Nash thriller. Much of the action-packed story takes place in the San Juan Islands so if you’re in the mood for a “heart-thumping ride” as one reviewer wrote, with hints of an “eco-atrocity” be sure and stop by the bookstore to meet and chat with the author. He’ll be on hand to sign Deadly Echoes and let you know more about his writing forays into mayhem and danger.

In Deadly Echoes Donovan Nash finds himself under siege by his old nemesis, Garrick Pearce, who is bent on a ruthless vendetta and threatening to destroy the scientific research organization Eco-Watch. The organization, founded by Donovan, is blamed for a series of violent eco-atrocities that have ignited protests around the world.

Garrick not only threatens to annihilate Eco-Watch, but also promises to murder everyone close to Donovan. Enlisting the help of Erica, a woman who claims she has information he needs about the violence, the two are under threat from several quarters. Donovan must run from trained assassins, the FBI, and even his own organization, racing from Southern California to the San Juan Islands, to British Columbia, then finally to Alaska where he joins Eco-Watch personnel in a desperate attempt to stop what promises to be the worst eco-atrocity in history. This is a high-stakes gamble to stop Garrick’s villainy, to silence him forever, and it could well cost Donovan his life.

About the Author
Philip Donlay learned to fly in high school and became licensed to fly six different types of jets. He has traveled to 40 countries on five continents, including a stint as copilot for a Saudi Prince. He has also flown a corporate jet for a Fortune 500 company. In 2008, Donlay retired as a pilot. He divides his time between Minneapolis and the San Juan Islands.

Andy Wappler, veteran Northwest broadcaster and President of the Puget Sound Energy Foundation, will host the American Red Cross Islands Chapter Real Heroes Dinner on Friday, May 2 at the Port of Anacortes “Transit Shed” Event Center on the water in Anacortes.

The Islands Chapter is proud to honor eight Real Heroes, including a youth group, and two Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. The awardees come from all parts of the chapter’s wide service area: Fidalgo/La Conner, Whidbey Island, and the San Juans.

The evening will also feature a salute to our Fallen Heroes in Washington State in conjunction with the Washington State Gold Star Mothers Chapter.

The annual Real Heroes event is an opportunity for the community to show appreciation and thank these remarkable individuals, and to support the local Red Cross chapter. This is the chapter’s most important fundraiser for disaster relief. The doors open at 6:00 pm, followed by diner at 6:30 pm; the program begins promptly at 7:00 pm on May 2. Tables of eight are available for guests. Continue Reading

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It’s on Saturday, April 19 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the SJI Grange Hall.

Karen Marshall from Seattle calling with The Spuds: Val White, Malcolm Suttles and Jim & Katy Nollman on fiddle, guitar, mandolin and piano.

No partners needed. All dances taught. No experience necessary. $10/person donation (students half price). For more info call 378-3836.

Puma is the Pet of the Week – Contributed photo

This gorgeous girl, Puma, was brought to the shelter because her owner passed away.

She’s a frisky 3-year old Torti , with personality plus! She gets along well with her shelter cat pals and is very friendly and personable with people.

She’d make an excellent addition to just about any kind of family. Puma is up-to-date on vaccines, spayed and waiting to meet you!

Cancelled until Further Notice

Just heard that Island Stage Left’s current production of “Red” is cancelled until further notice due to illness. The Update will keep you posted as we hear of any updates.