On April 19 Friday Harbor Grange # 225, Lopez Island Grange #1060 and Orcas Grange # 964 will celebrate Arbor Day by giving away free  Flowering Currant shrubs (a favorite of hummingbirds.)

On San Juan Island look for the FH Grange outside Marketplace from 10:00 am until the trees are all gone.

On Orcas Island the Orcas Island Grange will be at the Farmer’s Market and on Lopez Island they will be at Lopez Village Market.

The Flowering Currant is a native shrub with red or pink flowers followed by dark blue berries.

Plan to pick up your free one on April 19, and enjoy this pie recipe too!

Additional Measles Exposures

New information confirms that anyone who was in the San Juan County Planning Department (Community Development and Planning) on April 4, 2014, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 pm., has been exposed to measles.

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.

Currently there are a total of five (5) cases of measles on San Juan Island four of whom are no longer contagious. However, a Kitsap County resident diagnosed with measles was contagious during his stay in Friday Harbor on April 4, 2014.  Continue Reading

This workshop has been rescheduled to Tuesday, April 22nd…

Sunshine Alley, Brickworks and area businesses – Click for larger image

The results of the Sunshine Alley design workshops will be exhibited for public review and comment during an open house from 6:00-8:00 pm Tuesday, April 22nd at Brickworks.

Please come between those hours and provide us your feedback on the possible ideas and improvements.

It’s that time of week again for Captain Hobbes’ report…

Transient Orca – Click for larger image – Capt. Hobbes Buchanan photo

Come see orcas and wildlife in “their world”.  Transient orcas known by whale watch folks as “Biggs” orcas have been seen almost daily this week. Transient orcas are a little bigger than the resident orcas, and have a more pointy dorsal fin, often with nicks, scratches and notches in the trailing edge.

Gray whales are down in the Sound, and a couple of companies are running tours out of Everett.  The weather has been fantastic with flat calm waters.  Get out on the water to enjoy viewing playful Dall’s porpoise, harbor porpoise, seals, sea lions, eagles, seabirds and exotic wildlife on Spieden Island.  Most companies are now running daily trips, check out the SJIVB and PWWA website for details.  Cheers –

Capt. Hobbes Buchanan
San Juan Island Whale & Wildlife Tours

Jensen Shipyard is celebrating Earth Day this year with a new designation. The Clean Boating Foundation of Washington has extended their Leadership Clean certification to Albert Jensen and Sons, Inc (aka Jensen Shipyard) in recognition of their outstanding commitment to environmental responsibility and their achievements in restoring the health of Puget Sound.

Jensen Shipyard is one of 67 boatyards that operate under the WA State Department of Ecology NPDES Boatyard General Permit. Jensen Shipyard is the ninth boatyard in the state to receive the Leadership Clean certification.

The Clean Boating Foundation is working towards cleaner waters in Washington state. Partnering with boaters, boatyards, environmental groups, the Washington state Department of Ecology and scientific experts, CBF is a voluntary, market-driven effort to improve Puget Sound and the rest of our waters. They encourage boaters to choose environmentally-preferable products and practices and to use certified Clean Boatyards. They work with Washington boatyards to go above and beyond their legal requirements and showcase those businesses that act as true stewards of the environment.

The Clean Boating Foundation’s Clean Boatyard Program recognizes clean boatyards on two different levels: certified Clean Boatyards and certified Leadership Clean Boatyards. Clean certification comes from full compliance with all legally-required items of the checklist, which is based on the boatyard NPDES permit and hazardous waste regulations. The additional Leadership Clean certification is awarded to those yards which demonstrate a true commitment to environmental protection and are going well above and beyond the legally required items.

This certification has been a goal of Jensen Shipyard for some time; they to thank their customers for the support and compliance that has helped them attain this new designation. Jensen Shipyard is proud to be a part of this community which is always striving to achieve environmental responsibility.

Captain David Howitt, while skippering for Legacy Charters the other day, snatched these beautiful photos of an eagle eating in flight. Here it is in his words…

Bald eagle enjoys an in-flight meal – Click for larger view – Captain David Howitt photo, Legacy Charters

Amidst a flurry of Transient Orca tail lobs and crying scavenging glaucous gulls an eagle appeared from nowhere, plucked a piece of sealion meat from the surface, dodged harassing seagulls and commenced eating the meat from his talons in flight – I was impressed – 4/7/14, 4 mile NE of Active Pass

Click for larger view – Captain David Howitt photo, Legacy Charters

The sunrise, Mt. Baker, Peavine Pass, Blakely Island… A beautiful start to a gorgeous day – Marie DiCristina photo

It was a beautiful sunrise viewed from the early ferry on Thursday, and many people had their cameras, phones and iPads out, getting shots of it. This image was contributed by Marie DiCristina. Thanks Marie!

Barb from SJI Audubon sends over this invitation…

Join SJ Islands Audubon for a field trip on Saturday, April 12th during the first annual Orcas Island Bird and Wildlife Festival. This morning trip takes us exploring great Orcas locations looking for lingering seabirds, swans and ducks and arriving warblers and other songbirds.

This is a superb trip to tune up for spring bird songs. Those new to birding are especially welcome and it’s a wonderful time to see old friends and make some new ones. Meet at the ferry dock at 7:30am – we make sure all the other island ferries have arrived – and we will be carpooling. Bring a lunch, binoculars, a favorite bird book and dress for the weather. Trip ends early afternoon.

Stay on Orcas for other BirdFest events in the day! Call Barb Jensen for more field trip info or if you are coming as space is limited. 378-3068. The festival runs from April 10th – 12th. Get more info on the festival and schedule at: http://www.orcasislandbirdfest.com/

Then on the following weekend – Birding on Lopez Island is always wonderful and listening for the spring choirs of songbirds makes if delightful. Our field trip to Lopez Island is Saturday, April 19th. This is the height of spring migration for songbirds and we will be looking for all the new arrivals. This is a great trip to tune up on your bird songs, meet new people and discover good birding spots. New birders are always welcome. Meet at the Lopez ferry dock at 7:30 for carpooling. Trip ends early afternoon. Bring a lunch and dress for the weather. For more info call Barbara Jensen. 378-3068

Tim Bair is the new Executive Chef at SJ Pasta Co. – Contributed photo

San Juan Pasta Company recently hired Tim Bair as their Executive Chef. Bair brings sixteen years of culinary experience to the company including the Seasons of Maine in Bangor, Maine as well as two years at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“Tim represents the next phase of our company’s growth,” said Angel Michaels, CEO. “His ability to execute our current recipes in addition to helping develop new products enables us to diversify our product line as we continue to grow.”

Not only does Bair know his way around a kitchen, he needs no map for the San Juan Islands. He was raised on San Juan Island and graduated from Friday Harbor High School in 2002. He knew early on that food was his passion and he left the island to pursue a career in the culinary arts.

Now a well-traveled chef, Bair has returned to his roots on San Juan Island. “The San Juan Islands are held in high regard among foodies and travelers alike,” says Bair. “I’m excited to rejoin the islands’ culinary family and to be an integral part of San Juan Pasta Company.”

Since 2010 San Juan Pasta Company has provided the island communities on with fresh pasta, crackers, sauces and pasta-related products. Their product line features many locally-produced ingredients.

All of their products are made from “clean,” fresh ingredients including some integral components being grown in the San Juan Island Community Garden. Many of their flours are organically grown and are produced using sustainable farming methods.

Their products are served at several restaurants on San Juan and Orcas Islands and are also available at King’s Market, Roche Harbor Grocery, Spring Street Deli, San Juan Island Co-Op, San Juan Island Cheese Shop, and San Juan Vineyards. They’re also available at the San Juan Island Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.

Beginning Monday, May 5th, OPALCO members can access Wi-Fi at the interisland ferry landings with their SmartHub (eBill) user name and password. OPALCO is able to offer this public service free of charge in exchange for the savings created by paperless billing. Members must be signed up for SmartHub (eBill) and select paperless billing in order to participate.

If you do not have a SmartHub (eBill) user name and password, you can get yours online (www.opalco.com) or by phone (376-3500) with your OPALCO member account number. A member services representative will walk you through the process and help you select paperless billing. If you have a SmartHub user name and password, you can go into your profile settings to “Turn Off Printed Bills.”

When at the ferry landing, look for the OPALCOcares network in your Wi-Fi settings. When prompted, enter your SmartHub user name and password to complete your connection (some devices will require that you launch your browser to activate the connection). This is a secure network.

OPALCO is taking this action to provide a county-wide public safety net. After the CenturyLink outage last fall, it became clear that our membership needs more reliable access to communication channels, especially during emergencies. The OPALCOcares network will be up and running during the BPA county-wide planned power outage the night of May 8th. Members will be able to get a Wi-Fi connection at their local ferry landing.

Notice of Request for Proposals to use SJ County Council’s Historical Preservation Funds

The San Juan County Council has discretionary funds, generated by recording fees intended to promote historical preservation or historical programs, which may include preservation of historic documents. The Council is currently seeking proposals for projects to use $6136 in funds to be awarded in 2014.

Projects may include: acquisition or preservation of locally historic buildings and artifacts: developing and presenting locally historical programs or events; performing research into local history. Applicants must be non-profit or governmental entities that perform educational, interpretive, or preservative activities to promote or preserve the County’s local history. Applicants must demonstrate a preservation need and funds are available for specific projects only.

Projects will be selected based on the best presentation of need, benefit and merit to San Juan County residents and visitors.

Please call Sue Kollet at (360) 370-7470 for further information. Grant request form available here (PDF).

Here’s an update from Cyndi Brast on the beehive community project being done by FHHS Juniors Isabel Gabriel and Hailey Loucks…

Hailey Loucks (L) and Isabel Gabriel working on beehives – Cyndi Brast photo

Hailey Loucks and Isabel Gabriel have really worked hard on this project. The equipment for their hive was delayed in arrival, so we had to put together a hive from parts I had, and from a loaned bottom board from Colleen Howe of Mitchell Bay Farm. In spite of everything arriving at unexpected times, the honey bees were installed  in a “temporary” home. The bees arrived Wednesday and we just didn’t have time to build the hive with the parts arriving on the same day.

The queen gets special travel accommodations – Cyndi Brast photo

Hailey wasn’t able to be at the garden when we put the bees into the makeshift hive, but Conrad Bormann (our garden volunteer this past summer and beehive building expert) helped Isabel and then they met up with Hailey later in the afternoon to work on building the hive.

Once the bees have had a week or so to relax and unwind in their new location, we are going to do a hive check and transfer them into their new home. Isabel and Hailey will give their community project presentation sometime in May and hopefully Conrad will agree to help with upkeep and service of the hive and bees over the summer.

Temporary hive with a sugar-water jar. They are in a new home and haven’t had a chance to build honeycomb or store nectar or pollen yet for food, so they need a little help, hence the sugar water – Cyndi Brast photo

A big “thank you” to Marty Ahart for picking up the new hive parts that still need assembly and to Colleen Howe for some loaned equipment until we get the new hive put together. Thanks also to Conrad Bormann for helping carry hive parts and for helping the girls with putting their new hive together. It has been a BIG job and I’m so thankful for everyone helping out!

Marty Ahart, Isabel Gabriel and Conrad Bormann – Cyndi Brast photo

We have also really appreciated the community support and interest in this project. Everyone can help the bees right now by not spraying pesticides and if you’re especially inclined to bee generous, leave those dandelions blooming just a bit longer. Dandelions are a source of early nectar for the bees and other pollinators. If you are further interested in learning what plants honeybees visit at particular times of the year in our region, check out the honey bee forage map for our region (Region 2) at http://honeybeenet.gsfc.nasa.gov/Honeybees/Forage.htm.

Cyndi Brast is a graduate student at the University of Florida Department of Entomology and Nematology.

Stillpoint School Cleans Up – Contributed photo

As co-organizers of the fourth annual Great Island Clean-Up, David Dehlendorf, Jana Marks, Tom Kirshner, and Lori Stokes would like to thank the 225 islanders who participated on April 5, helping to make San Juan Island “litter free by the sea.” A grand total of 3,500 pounds of litter was collected from our roadsides and beaches!

Soroptimists Clean Up – Contributed photo

Many groups provided enthusiastic litter-picker-uppers: the Chamber of Commerce, Cutthroat Pirates, Friday Harbor Labs, Friends of the San Juans, Islanders Bank, Kiwanis, League of Women Voters, Lions/Leos, Mitchell Point Litter Ladies, National Park Service, Ravenhill Construction, Rotary, San Juan County Land Bank, Soroptimists/S-Club, Spring Street International School, Paideia School, Stillpoint School, Trash Masters, and Washington State Ferries. These groups were supplemented by the efforts of many individuals who picked up litter near their homes or businesses.

The students from Stillpoint School — who combed the Town streets between their school and the library, and collected four huge garbage bags full of litter – had this to say: “We love being a part of this event every year! Our loads were lightened when a police officer gave our group a thumbs-up, lots of kind drivers paused to say “thank you,” and truck drivers honked as they went by!” Continue Reading

Lining up to buy ride tickets at the 2013 Fair – Update file photo

The SJC Fair staff is planning a great fair for our community this year, and they’d love to have you be a part of it! They are looking for a few superintendents again this year, for the arts and photo departments.

And there are always lots of opportunities for volunteers to help  make the fair even better! For more information, you can call the fair office at 378-4310, or ask here. Thanks very much friends!

The Health Department will be providing additional immunizations in Friday Harbor on Thursday, April 10, 2014 between 12 noon and 3:00 p.m. If you do not have a regular health care provider call the Health Department (378-4474) and make an appointment to get immunized now.

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.

If you or your child, older than 12 months of age; has not received a dose of MMR vaccine, you should be vaccinated now. If you or your child are older than 12 months of age and have received one dose of MMR vaccine and it has been more than 28 days since that dose you should now receive a second dose of MMR vaccine. Most adults born before 1957 have had measles and can be considered to be immune.

Currently there are a total of five (5) cases of measles on San Juan Island.

If you are unsure of your immunization status call your health care provider or the San Juan County Department of Health & Community Services 378-4474.

A trip through the Way-Back machine, Downriggers building, Feb. 27, 2004 – Click for larger view – Tim Dustrude photo

That photo was shot from the ferry 10 years ago. I just came across it the other day when I was looking for something else in my photo library and this morning I have the perfect opportunity to share it with this announcement:

Downriggers is having a clearance sale this weekend…

Saturday, April 12th from 9:00am – 1:00pm at Store-More Storage on Mullis by the Animal Shelter. It’s the next right turn after Shelter Way, just past the runway after Mullis becomes Cattle Point Road.

Merchandise to include:

• used deck tables & chairs
• decorative foilage
• cast iron planters
• salt & pepper shakers
• candles
• holiday decoration
• & More!