L – R: Deborah Hopkins Buchanan, David Gow, Lee Taylor, Dona Wuthnow, Boyd Pratt, Tom Kirschner, Guard Sundstrom and Stephanie Buffum – Click for larger image – Contributed photo

Over ninety San Juan Islands Scenic Byway ‘wayshowing’ signs will be posted on Orcas and San Juan islands during April, eight-and-a-half years since undertaking the grassroots Scenic Byway process in the fall of 2005. The San Juan Islands Scenic Byway became Washington’s newest state byway in the spring of 2009.

Eighty-five metal, 12”x18” logo signs, to be posted during April by Scenic Byway partner San Juan County Public Works, will make it easier for visitors to find designated attractions, parks and amenities along the Byway on both islands. In addition, eight 60”x27” ‘gateway’ signs will be posted at the Anacortes, Orcas Island and San Juan Island/Friday Harbor Washington State Ferries terminals (see photo).

The signs were made possible via a national scenic byways grant, one of four grants received to date. Byway touring maps have been printed by the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau each year since 2009, and online tours are included on the Visitors Bureau’s website at www.visitsanjuans.com/tours and online brochure.

The San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau has been leading this project since 2005 with a dedicated and diverse group of leaders and organizations serving on the steering committee/partnership over the years, which include, in alphabetical order:

• Cultural Resources Consultant – Boyd Pratt (Byway Signs Distribution Coordinator)
• Friends of Moran State Park – Michel Vekved
• Friends of the San Juans – Stephanie Buffum
• Light Heart Inc./Nonprofits Unlimited – Liz Illg (Byway Grants Manager)
• Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce – Terri Gilleland
• Orcas Pathways – Cathy Faulkner
• San Juan County Health & Community Services (Mobility) – Christopher Aiken
• San Juan County Land Bank – Judy Cumming
• San Juan County Parks – Dona Wuthnow
• San Juan County Public Works – Shannon Wilbur and Guard Sundstrom
• San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce – Tom Kirschner (& formerly Debbie Pigman)
• San Juan Island National Historical Parks – Lee Taylor (& formerly Peter Diedrich)
• San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau – Deborah Hopkins Buchanan (Byway Leader)
• San Juan Transit – Dan Ward (& new owner Kraig Hansen)
• Town of Friday Harbor – Sandy Strehlou
• Transportation Planner David Gow
• Washington State Ferries – Melissa Johnson

The Byway is divided into three segments: the first one-third encompasses 30 miles along the beautiful, blue marine highway (Washington State Ferries routes), the second one-third is a driving tour around San Juan Island, and the last third is a driving tour on Orcas Island. More information and videos can be found at www.visitsanjuans.com/scenicbyway.

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This weekend, it’s the first of two hands-on workshops with WSU Food Safety & Preservation Advisor Terri Brown.

Practice canning.

Take home jam and pickles.

Bring your questions: Water bath or pressure canner? Why did my jar break? Why didn’t my jar seal? How can I tell if my food has spoiled?

It’s on Saturday, April 12 from 2:30 to 6:00 pm at Brickworks.

Click on the flyer for more info.

La Boheme, A Scene from Act III – Jonathan Tichler photo

An exciting young cast stars in Franco Zeffirelli’s breathtaking production of The Met: Live in HD’s La Bohème, presented at San Juan Community Theatre on Sunday, April 13 at 2 p.m.

Italian star tenor Vittorio Grigolo makes his Live in HD debut as the passionate poet Rodolfo, and Romanian soprano Anita Hartig makes her highly anticipated Met debut as his fragile lover, Mimì. Susanna Phillips sings the flirtatious Musetta and Massimo Cavalletti is the painter Marcello in this performance, led by Italian conductor Stefano Ranzani.

Featuring a cast of hundreds, a glorious onstage snow scene, and a detailed reconstruction of the Latin Quarter in Paris, this broadcast marks 15 million viewers for the Live in HD series, which now reaches 66 countries worldwide.

In addition to The Met: Live in HD presentations, San Juan Community Theatre also rebroadcasts National Theatre Live productions from Great Britain. A schedule of the HD-live events is available at www.sjctheatre.org. SJCT’s new partnership with both programs and the HD equipment to present them, was made possible through a generous bequest from the late Dodie Gann.

Tickets for La Bohéme are $20 for adults, $18 for SJCT members and $10 for student reserved. Tickets are available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org or at the SJCT Box Office: 378-3210.

The San Juan Singers – Click for larger view – Matt Pranger photo

San Juan Island’s community chorus takes us to the movies during their annual spring concert at San Juan Community Theatre on Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12 at 7:30pm.

Directed by Angel Michaels with piano accompanist Jenepher Reeves and several musical guests, Silver Screen Serenades-Hollywood’s Hits showcases songs written specifically for movies and songs that have been popularized thanks to the silver screen. One of the latter is the opening chorus O Fortuna from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, which has a long history of use by the movie and TV industries to underscore their dramatic scenes and messages (some of those productions include 1981’s Excalibur, 1984’s Speed, 2003’s Cheaper by the Dozen and The Matrix Revolutions, and most recently, a Hershey’s syrup commercial). “We’ll have selections in a two-piano and percussion arrangement that Orff stated he actually preferred over the massive orchestral arrangement most often heard,” said Michaels.

The Singers will present several hits from animated films, including Go the Distance from Disney’s Hercules, and When You Wish Upon a Star from Disney’s Pinocchio. In addition, guest vocalist Joely Loucks will help bring live to the stage the international hit, Let it Go, from the popular Frozen.

Other guests featured are cellist Sasha von Dassow who will play for several of the pieces (including from the musical/movie, Chicago) as well as Sue Collado on clarinet, Michael Linehan on percussion, Grisha Krivchenia on piano and chorus members Georgann Greene on violin and Teresa DeGraaff on timpani.

The evening’s Business Partner is Lake Kennedy McCulloch CPAs. Concert tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for student reserved, with $5 student RUSH one hour before the show.

The SJCT Box Office is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or tickets may be purchased on-line at www.sjctheatre.org

Nina is this week’s Pet of the Week

Everyone who visits “Kamp Kitty” here at the shelter falls in love with “Nina”. She’s a big girl with a big personality and loads of character. She came to us as a stray several months ago, having been sprayed in the face with a chemical or irritant of some kind. As a result, she has a permanent “squinty” look about her, but she is such a charmer you hardly notice that. She’s very playful and full of mischief – but loves to snuggle and cuddle as well. She gets along great with other cats and has been exposed to lots of dogs here at the shelter and does just find with those as well. Nina is about 3 years old.

Don Galt Sr. has withdrawn his candidacy for the OPALCO District 1 board election. “I want to thank the petitioners for inviting me to participate for the OPALCO board,” Galt wrote in an email. “I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

The OPALCO election is open from Friday, April 11th through noon on Friday, May 2nd. Election ballots and ballot booklets will arrive by mail early next week. Every co-op member gets to vote in each OPALCO election either by mail, online or at the annual meeting on Saturday, May 3rd.

This year, there are six candidates competing for two open board positions and two member-initiated bylaw amendments on the ballot. Information on the board candidates and proposed bylaw amendments – and instructions on how to submit your ballot – can be viewed online at www.opalco.com.

San Juan Community Theatre’s On Book! Readers Theatre series features Lillian Hellman’s 1934 drama, The Children’s Hour, on Monday and Tuesday, April 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gubelman Theatre.

Set in an all-girls boarding school run by two women, the plot unfolds as an angry student runs away from the school; and to avoid being sent back, she tells her grandmother that the two headmistresses are having a lesbian affair. The accusation proceeds to destroy the women’s careers, relationships and lives.

The reading is directed by Amanda Smith and features 15 islanders in the acting roles.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with festival seating. Admission is free.
For more information on the series and other Theatre events, visit www.sjctheatre.org

San Juan County council members Bob Jarman (left) and Rick Hughes join the town crier from Duncan, BC to celebrate the first ferry run of the spring from the mainland US and San Juan Island to Vancouver Island.

Victoria, BC – OK, we’ll admit it: it’s been tough not having the easy ride to the island, the last three months. Josie & I think of things to do, plays to see, people to hug, and the Sidney/Anacortes/Friday Harbor ferry hasn’t been scheduled since early January…but now it’s back.

Friday Harbor Town Council member Farhad Ghatan visits with Mountie Jessica, who is on hand to welcome the first ferry of the season.

One of the parts I like is the opening of the run, around this time. For years now the city of Sidney has put on a nice event to welcome the first ferry of the spring, and this year was no exception.

(Here’s the TV news report of  the welcoming ceremony, from CHEK news, in Victoria.)

Yesterday, we drove up from Victoria in time to see the ferry come around the corner, and to see the first ferry passengers in three months disembarking to the sounds of a bagpiper. The mayors of Sidney, Anacortes & Central Saanich (just below Sidney), as well as members of the county council & town council from San Juan Island spoke to their commitment to keep the ferries running between our two countries.

Boyd & Lovel Pratt brought a sign to remind folks that San Juan Island is part of the state’s Scenic Byways – wahoo!

Since I moved to Victoria 15 months ago, I’ve been surprised how many friends have come to visit & say, “I had no idea how easy it is to get here.”

Ferries between friends…

I’m betting that’s what you’ll say on your first visit as well. And you can leave the car at home (way cheaper that way!) because the bus runs from Sidney straight to Victoria…or stay & visit Sidney, which among other things has more bookstores per square inch than anyplace, as well as a beautiful walk along the harbour.

And…for Americans, the exchange rate is pretty good right now. Good time to cash in.

Glad to have the ferry back! See you soon!

Ian Byington, foreign affairs reporter for the Update

Yes, it’s springtime in Victoria & everything’s in bloom…that’s Beacon Hill Park in Victoria. (Click to make it bigger!)  All photos by Ian Byington.

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League of Women Voters Presents Forum on Increased Vessel Traffic in the Salish Sea

The April Meeting of the League of Women Voters will be held at the SJI Library Conference room on Monday, April 14th from Noon to 2 p.m. Entitled “Island Crossroads: Vessel Traffic, Oils Spills and You,” our speakers will be Shaun Hubbard and Lovel Pratt.

They will talk about the new and expanding fossil fuel terminal and refinery projects in our area which, if completed will lead to a significant increase in commercial vessel traffic in our waters, threatening our marine mammals, water fowl, our economy and our pristine shores.

The meeting is open to the public and islanders are encouraged to come and learn what the projects are, what the risks are and what impact we can try to make on the process as these plans move forward. Join us.

Anna Maria over at Coho/Tucker House sends over this invitation for what looks like a tasty event on Friday…

Friday, April 11th, Coho kicks off the San Juan Island part of Samuel Smith Salute celebrating this iconic English brewery that started the micro brew movement in the US. This is a nationwide event. Coho has an amazing line up of 6 beers and a hard cider planned along with Chef Bill’s deft pairings.

Check out this link for more details.

There will be other events happening at different venues in town in collaboration of this nationwide celebration.

A “not-so-fast” internet solution – DSL is much slower than Fiber Optic – Update file photo

Victoria Compton from the SJC Economic Development Council shared an interesting article from the New York Times on the correlation between internet connection speeds and small town economic development.

Have you ever drummed your fingers waiting for a webpage to load or an email to send? Check this out, it’s thought provoking.

The Friday Harbor Film Festival is seeking a volunteer coordinator and grant writer. (could be one or two positions) We can afford to pay a small wage to start until the grant writer can generate capital, which is our goal. This is an opportunity to be part of one of the most exciting Annual events on San Juan Island.

We have already secured the premier of Fragile Waters (about our local Orcas), plus Return of the River and Damnation (a new release winning awards at every FF shown to date), both great films about unused dam removal. So far we have gotten films from as far away as Chile (social justice) and the Arctic (preparing to land on Mars), so our line up to date is as varied and unique as last year.

If you know of anyone that has a keen interest or talent please encourage them to contact us. Our immediate need is also to have someone set up and host our Tuesday night screenings. (our next one is April 15 at the Grange in FH) We have the techie but need someone to help set up, distribute flyers and coordinate with the volunteer high school kids. Please help us spread the word. We look forward to hearing from someone that is excited about being involved and would like to help us grow this wonderful event!

All the Best – Lynn and Karen

Lynn Danaher, Director (360) 472-1050
Karen Palmer, Producer (360) 298-2240

www.fhff.org Nov. 7-8-9, 2014

John T. Manning, Director of SJC Health & Community Services shares this information…

The San Juan County Health Department urges all parents to ensure that they and their children are fully immunized against measles at this time. 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.

Contact your health care provider or the San Juan County Health Department (SJCH) to schedule an appointment to get immunized. The Health Department will be conducting immunization clinics in Friday Harbor on Tuesday  April 8, and on Orcas Island on Wednesday, April 9. If you do not have a regular health care provider call the Health Department and make an appointment to get immunized now.

Currently there are four (4) cases of measles on San Juan Island. The Health Department is continuing two additional investigations to determine if there are other measles cases. The current cases are known to be limited to close contacts and family members. Continue Reading

Effective immediately, the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild (Ag Guild) has taken over responsibility for building the relatively young Island Grown marketing program originally begun under the auspices of the San Juan County Agricultural Resources Committee (ARC). This move comes about following recent strategic planning discussions within the Ag Guild as its multi-year effort to rebuild and repurpose the Brickworks property in the heart of Friday Harbor draws to a successful conclusion.

“We see the melding of the Island Grown program with the new marketing initiatives we are currently developing as a significant opportunity for synergism”, said Stephen Robins, Ag Guild Board member responsible for marketing and communications programs. “The move will help consolidate our commitment to strengthen the close connection among all members of the agricultural continuum — from farmers to value-added agricultural processors to consumers and the community at large.” Further information on new marketing initiatives will be forthcoming shortly.

The Ag Guild is a county-wide 501(c)(3) non-governmental volunteer organization with a mission to foster a vibrant, resilient and sustainable local agriculture and food system in San Juan County, Washington. Contact
info [@] sjiagguild [.] com
or see www.sjiagguild.com for further information.

Here’s Captain Hobbes with this week’s report…

Transient Orca near shore – Capt. Hobbes Buchanan photo

Whale watch companies from the San Juan Islands, Victoria and Vancouver are all reporting seeing Transient (Biggs) orcas at least four times this week, with the latest sighting being made by Tom and Jane Cogan at Andrews Bay. Also around are several large groups of Dall’s porpoise and pacific white sided dolphins…

Other wildlife in our area that’s being seen almost daily includes seals, sea lions, harbor porpoise, eagles and tons of seabirds. I was just about to send this email out, when yet another text came in reporting orcas in Thatcher Pass right now! 09:00 Friday morning!

Tell your guests it’s time to get out on the water and view wildlife in the beautiful San Juan Islands! Cheers from the PWWA.

Capt. Hobbes Buchanan
San Juan Island Whale & Wildlife Tours

Neighbors helping neighbors – Photo courtesy of Genna Martin / The Herald

By now we’ve all heard about the terrible tragedy that hit our neighbors in the Oso/Darrington area and many of us are wondering how we can best offer some help. Here is a great list of places to donate which is being updated daily by the Everett Herald.

Be careful if you are approached to give money to organizations you haven’t heard of. State officials warn that scam artists might try to take advantage of the situation by posing as legitimate charities. The Secretary of State has more advice on donating wisely on its website; the governor’s website also has information about this and much more.

Many thanks to the Everett Herald for sharing this information.