Springtide - 2015-16 by Sound Publishing

WHAT’S INSIDE

CROW VALLEY POTTERY & GALLERY

An island landmark since 1959!

“THE CABIN” This 1866 Homestead Log Cabin features pottery from our own studio, plus works from over 80 artists! An always changing selection make us one of the region’s favorite galleries! Orcas Road (across from Golf Course). Open daily 10 to 5 (Seasonally)

360-376-4260

www.crowvalley.com

“IN TOWN” Downtown Eastsound! A gallery of American Crafts, with a focus on local and regional paintings, glass, jewelry, pottery, and all manner of art from a long list of artists! A “Must See” Orcas venue! (Next to Darvill’s) Open all year (winter hours vary)

OUR 18TH ANNUAL GARDEN ART SHOW! • JUNE 26 THRU JULY 12 at "The Cabin"

Show opening reception: Friday June 26th, 4 to 7PM at "The Cabin". Live music of course, with Margie and Jeffri’s nibbles! Art For and About the Garden… an Orcas tradition!

THE ANNUAL POTTER'S FEST! • JULY 17 THRU AUGUST at “The Cabin”

Show opening reception: Friday July 17th, 4 to 7PM at "The Cabin". Naturally, live music and tasty treats too! With the varied works of over 50 potters... Crow Valley’s most awaited show!

www.WestBeachResort.com

877-WEST-BCH

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* BEACHFRONT COTTAGES * RV+CAMPING * MARINA * ACTIVITIES KIOSK * STORE & SUPPLIES * FAMILY FUN

Orcas Island

Right Care, Right Here. When you need health care, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice to know that you can get the care you need, right here on the island. PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center is San Juan Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only critical access hospital. With primary care and specialty clinics, as well as hospital services, emergency department and a Saturday Walk-in Clinic, our caring providers are here to serve you when you need it.

www.peacehealth.org/peace-island

SATURDAY WALK-IN CLINIC 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1117 Spring Street Friday Harbor, WA 98250

A Clean Marina Leadership Award Recipient…

San Juan Island’s Favorite Corner

Photo/Matt Pranger

— Since 1920 —

T.G.I.F. All YeAr lonG! Year-round services include: Pump-Out Vessel • Fuel Dock • U.S. Customs Wildlife Cruises • Airport & Seaplanes • Kayak Rentals Dining & Provisions • Floating Restrooms • Showers Laundry • Chandleries • Yacht Brokerage Marine Repair • Courteous Service • Free Wi-Fi Music in the Park, Friday nights & Sunday afternoons Post Office Box 889 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360-378-2688 • VHF66A www.portfridayharbor.org

Painted by Lanny Little, the front of the store features the interior of the original pharmacy based on photos from Al Nash Jr. Art donated by A&H Stores, owners.

Prescriptions • Souvenirs T Shirts & Sweatshirts • Cosmetics Hallmark Cards & Gifts, Gift Wrap Candy • Party Ware Art, Office & School Supplies

210 Spring Street, Friday Harbor •

378-4421

•

Mon.–Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Contributors Publisher: Colleen Smith Armstrong Editor: Cali Bagby Columnists: Colleen Smith Armstrong, Cali Bagby, Russel Barsh, Audrey DeLella Benedict, Joe Gaydos, Meredith M. Griffith, Madrona Murphy, Bob Myhr, Rebecca Parks, Scott Rasmussen, and Dennis Ryan Advertising Sales: Colleen Smith Armstrong, Cali Bagby, Phil DuBois, Cherie Sarrett, Howard Schonberger Graphic Artists: Scott Herning, Kathryn Sherman

Publication Information The Journal of the San Juans: 640 Mullis Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 P: 360‑378‑5696, F: 888‑562‑8818 • www.sanjuanjournal.com The Islands’ Sounder: 217 Main Street, Eastsound, WA 98245, P: 360‑376‑4500, F: 888‑562‑8818 • www.islandssounder.com The Islands’ Weekly: 217 Main Street, Eastsound, WA 98245, P: 360-376-4500, F: 888‑562‑8818 • www.islandsweekly.com Springtide 2015 / 16

ADVENTURE LOVE WHALES ISLAND LIFE HAPPINESS COMMUNITY FUTURE BEAUTY NATURE

CALLING THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS HOME â&#x20AC;Ś Whatever Your Reasons Windermere Property Specialists Are Here To Help

Relocation Buying or Selling Commercial and Investing Rental Property Managment

Windermere Real Estate San Juan Island

50 Spring Street W | Friday Harbor Washington 98250 | 360 378 3600 office

www.BeOnSanJuan.com

Giant Pacific octopus. Brandon Cole photo

By Joe Gaydos and Audrey DeLella Benedict

f the 3,000 Salish Sea marine invertebrates that you can easily see, you might pick a favorite. If you are fond of superlatives, the giant Pacific octopus might be your choice. How many suckers does it have? Isn’t it inspiring that the female can lay 100,000 eggs and spend 9 months caring for them, only to die after the eggs hatch? If you favor economics, the geoduck or Dungeness crab might be good choices, as both are foundations for multimillion-dollar fisheries in the Salish Sea. Those fascinated with history might consider the northern abalone, the Salish Sea’s only species of abalone. These gastropods have been harvested and eaten, and their beautiful shells have been traded by some groups of Coast Salish since time immemorial. If you like diversity, you might pick a beautiful nudibranch, then pick another, and another. If you’re a foodie, choose the spot prawn. There is not a lobster in the world that will stand

up to the taste of a fresh, locally harvested spot prawn. And spot prawns are caught in pots, which minimizes the bycatch and destructive seafloor issues associated with shrimp harvest in other parts of the world. And if you are into cute, by all means choose the stubby squid. Invertebrates don’t get any cuter than this one.

Mark your Calendar!

www.sjctheatre.org Box ofﬁce: 360-378-3210

July 4

Parade, voted one of the 10 best in the nation! Pig War BBQ • Rock The Dock Fireworks – Biggest and Best Ever!

Locally owned & operated Since

Saturday and Sunday July 11 & 12

Richard Lawson Construction

16th Annual Summer Art Fair Art, music, library book sale and more!

INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

October 1 - 31

Savor the San Juans • www.visitsanjuans.com/savor

December 4

Island Lights Holiday Celebration Tree lighting and Christmas caroling

www.sanjuanisland.org • 360-378-5240

Gravel • Shale • Ponds • Dams Rock Bulkheads • Land Clearing Road Building • Site Prep, Local Materials • Concrete Pump truck available Licensed, Bonded Insured FREE ESTIMATES CONTRACTOR LICENSE #RI-CH-AL-C998P6

RichardLawsonConstruction.com • 378-4313 • 1165 West Valley Road, Friday Harbor

MARKET

The Largest Full Service Supermarket on San Juan Island Full Selection of Fresh and Frozen Meat & Fish • Fresh Produce Service Deli • Outstanding Wine, Beer and Liquor Selection Great Selection of Fishing Tackle and Marine Supplies

MARINE

Use Our Outside Entry Elevator!

Current & Tide Guides • N.O.A.A. & Canadian Charts Travel Guides & Nautical Publications • Galley Accessories Camping Gear • Kayaks • Fishing Licenses • Discovery Passes

Sportswear for Men, Women and Children Patagonia • Columbia • Pendleton • Kavu Sperry Topsiders • Smartwool • Keen • Merrell New Balance Shoes • Swimwear, Sunglasses, Accessories and much more!

Visit our Corner Shirt Shop! Complete Line of Fun & Original Island T-shirts, Sweatshirts and Gifts

Walking Distance (1 Block) from Moorage Spring Street, Downtown Friday Harbor 8

Springtide 2015 / 16

360-378-4505

Scientists have shown that the better-known resident and transient killer not only prefer different diets but Yes and no. Some will kill and whales also have genetic, behavioral, vocal, and eat other whales – a behavior noted morphologic differences. The offshore by early whalers who created the epi- ecotype, which has not been studied as thet. We now know, however, that not intensively, is genetiall killer whales have cally distinct from the this dietary preference. resident and transient In some parts of the Residents are the ecotypes, although it world, there are killer most well-known is more closely related whale subtypes, or to residents than tranecotype, and these ecotypes, that specialsients. Ecological speize in certain prey. The whales prefer fish, cialization – with acSalish Sea is home to specifically salmon. companying social and 3 distinct killer whale reproductive isolation of offshore, resident, ecotypes. Residents are and transient killer the most well-known ecotype, and these whales prefer fish, specifically salmon. whale ecotypes – has led to a divergence The marine mammal eaters are called and one day might even lead to their clastransients. Members of the third and sification as distinct subspecies or species. less well-known ecotype, offshores, are © 2015 by Cloud Ridge Publishing. believed to be fish specialists that appear All rights reserved. Excerpted from “The to have a preference for eating sharks. Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific Northwest.” By Joe Gaydos and Audrey Benedict

Transient orca hunts a harbor porpoise in the Salish Sea. Robin W. Baird photo

Very Successful Zip Line Park On San Juan Island Facility is located on 40 acres in 6 parcels adjacent to Lakedale Campground. Operating Since 2010. Property includes 2 ponds and frontage on Bacon Lake. Additional Acreage Available. Present owners contract daily operations to a management company.

FOR SALE $695,000 or LEASE For more information or a tour call 360-317-5743 cadymtn1@verizon.net Springtide 2015 / 16

Contributed photo.

By Scott Rasmussen

t is always nice to find a place where you can get away from it all. Even better when that place has an assortment of intriguing sights, invigorating activities and oodles of entertainment opportunities close at hand. On San Juan Island, you’ll find the best of both worlds. Yet its unique blend of scenic splendor and small town charm is just one reason why San Juan has long been a favorite “get away” for many. The list is lengthy. Let’s begin out west. Situated closer to Canada than mainland U.S.A., the west side of San Juan Island is where you’ll find those dazzling sunsets, myriad hiking trails, sweeping vistas and stunning views of the Olympic Mountains, Vancouver Island and the Strait of Juan de Fuca in between. It’s no more than a 15-minute drive from Friday Harbor or 45-minute bicycle ride, depending upon one’s personal prowess in the saddle and to which location or in which direction you’re headed. The west side boasts more than 3,000 acres open to the public and nearly all the parks and nature preserves on the west side offer an opportunity to tip-toe along the shoreline. It’s here you’ll also find a state park with a historic lighthouse, an array of picnic

Springtide 2015 / 16

tables and an area devoted to land-based whale watching, as well as a coveted campground outfitted with mooring buoys and a boat ramp, and a national historical park divided into two large separate sections of land, one at the south end and the other farther north. All told, the west side of San Juan Island boasts 30-plus miles of shoreline that dip down into the waters of Haro Strait, one of the more heavily traveled shipping lanes on the entire West Coast and a favorite hunting ground of the region’s resident and endangered killer whales. It’s also one of the sweetest spots on the globe in which to launch a kayak. Did you know that Bull kelp is edible? At the north end is the picturesque, often bustling seaside village of Roche Harbor Resort, home of the historic Hotel de Haro and a lively marina that does double-duty as a U.S. Port of Entry. Prior to its emergence as a resort, Roche Harbor was the epicenter of the very first headline-grabbing commercial enterprise in the San Juans; the production of lime. At the south end rest the sweeping prairies and bulky bluffs of American Camp, home to the island’s longest stretch of sandy, scenic, driftwood-laden shoreline, South Beach, and a ridge line trail that traverses the summit of Mount Finlayson and offers a panoramic view that stretches out over the water for as far as the eye can see.

Where to find it ATMs

• Big Store, 420 Argyle Ave., Friday Harbor, 360-378-2424 • Hotel de Haro, 360-378-2155 • King’s Market, 160 Spring St., Friday Harbor, 360-378-4505 • Little Store, 360-378-4422

Banks

• Heritage Bank, 360-370-5641 • Islanders Bank, 360-378-2265 • Key Bank, 360-378-2111 • Wells Fargo Bank, 360-378-2128

Dentist

Medical

• Emergency 911 (cell phone, 360-378-4141) • Peace Island Medical Center, 360-378-2141 • San Juan Healthcare, 360-378-1338

Public restrooms

• American and English Camps • Friday Harbor ferry landing • Friday Harbor Marina • Jackson’s Beach • Lime Kiln State Park • Roche Harbor Village • Spring Street Landing • Sunshine Alley

Transportation

• Bob’s Taxi and Tours, 360-378-6777

• Classic Cab Company, 360-378-7519 • Friday Harbor Taxi, 360-298-4434 • Island Tours Taxi, 360-378-4453 • M&W Auto Sales and Rentals, 360-378-2886, 800-323-6037 • San Juan Taxi and Tours, 360-378-3550 • San Juan Transit, 360-378-8887, www.sanjuantransit.com • Susie’s Mopeds, 360-378-5244

Travel information

Towing

Outdoor Activities

• Island Towing, 600 Mullis St., Friday Harbor, 360-378-7000

• San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce, 360-378-5240, www.sanjuanisland.org • San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, 888-468-3701, www.VisitSanJuans.com

Veterinarian

• Animal Inn, 360-378-4735 • Harbor Vet Services, 360-378-3959 • Islands Veterinary Clinic, 360-3782333; 24-hour, 360-378-7818 • Lighthouse Veterinary Housecalls, 360-378-4711 • Natural wonders (page 7) • Family Activities (page 29) • Farmers’ markets (page 34) • Camping and hiking (pg 28, 35)

• Friday Harbor Dentistry, 360-378-4944 • Bo Turnage, 360-378-4913

Ferry Information

• WSF: 511 (in state), 360-378-8665 (Friday Harbor), 888-808-7977, www.wsdot/wa.gov/ferries.

Groceries

• Friday Harbor Market Place, 360378-3238 • King’s Market, 160 Spring St., Friday Harbor, 360-378-4505 • Roche Harbor General Store, 360-378-5562

Convenience stores

• Big Store, 360-378-2424 • Little Store, 360-378-4422 • Spring Street General Store, 360-378-4949

Laundry

• Blue Sky Laundry Service, 360-317-7138 • Roche Harbor Village, located on the north side of the wharf

Back over on the east side of the island, the jump-off point for the majority of island adventures, lies the Town of Friday Harbor. Founded in 1909 and still only slightly more than one-square mile in size, Friday Harbor is home to the ferry landing, the 11th busiest airport in Washington state and a publicly managed marina where the number of boats vying for moorage slips swells in summertime. The Port of Friday Harbor is also home to the local whale-watch fleet and one of San Juan’s most beloved celebrities, Popeye, a one-eyed harbor seal.

Courtesy of the National Park Service.

The only incorporated town in San Juan County, Friday Harbor is both the seat of county government and a public entity unto itself, with a mayor, a town council, a public works department, about 2,000 year-round residents and bears all the responsibility of any other municipal government does. It is the commercial and cultural core of the island and home to a public library, bowling alley, movie theatre and a 285seat performing arts center; a fitness center (with pool), four banks, an art museum and host of art galleries, and a multitude

of quality cafes, restaurants and cozy eateries to choose from. There farmers’ market that on Saturdays is open for business on an outdoor plaza located smack-dab in the heart of town. The one noteworthy thing that Friday Harbor does lack, however, is a traffic light. In fact, you won’t find a single traffic light at work anywhere on the 55-squaremile island, at least not for its intended use. How about that for a get-away? Springtide 2015 / 16

Rebecca Parks

With the ferry ride to Friday Harbor so spectacular, it’s hard to imagine that a visit to the San Juans can get any better. But believe it or not, there’s more to San Juan Island than its beautiful waters. The quiet town of Friday Harbor, a fishing village turned travelers’ mecca, offers many delights: shops, cafés, art galleries, a whale museum, a community theatre, and an art museum. San Juan Islands Museum of Art, an unexpected delight on the second block of Spring Street, showcases an international roster of acclaimed artists. The IMA building stands out as a work of art itself, built of an abandoned ambulance garage in the center of Friday Harbor. Started by a handful of gutsy art lovers who staged exhibitions from theater lobbies and vacant storefronts for 10 years, the structure opened in December with a show of glass by internationally acclaimed northwest favorite, William Morris. From May 23 to August 21, Susan Middleton’s photographic prints will amuse and educate in an exhibit titled “Spineless: Portraits of Marine Invertebrates, the Backbone of Life,” from Middleton’s book of the

same title published this year by Abrams. the viewer a rare appreciation for color and The photographer, author and lecturer spe- light. For 2016, IMA plans an exhibition of cializes in portraiture of the rare and endan- Morse Clary’s wooden book sculpture and gered. Summers spent working in Friday much much more, with exhibitions changHarbor with the University of Washington ing every three months. Admission is free. Marine Labs inspired some of Middleton’s Open 11 to 5 Thurs. - Mon. in summer, Fri. most splendid work: huge images of octo- - Mon. in winter. 540 Spring Street, Friday puses and jellyfish reveal a close-up world Harbor, 360-370-5050, sjima.org. of the marine invertebrates that represent more than 98 percent of the known animal species in the ocean. “Colorful, quirky, quivery, spindly, spiky, sticky, stretchy, squishy, slithery, squirmy, prickly, bumpy, bubbly and fluttery, the invertebrates appear almost surreal, even alien,” Middleton says. She visually isolates each creature to best capture its individual character: resplendent sea cucumbers, ethereal jellies, otherworldly nudibranchs and more. From the stubby squid to the frilled anemone to the white phantom crab, these images open our eyes to both the fragility and the resiliency of these species. Running through the autumn months is an exhibition by watercolorist Michael Dailey, whose huge canvases share with Widehand Hermit, Elassochirus tenuimanus. Susan Middleton photo

he Friday Harbor Film Festival – now in its third year – will be held on picturesque San Juan Island the weekend of Nov. 6, 7 and 8. And according to organizers, this year’s festival promises to be even more fabulous, informative and insightful than the past two have been. The festival will feature more than 30 award-winning documentaries and docu-dramas, including at least two premieres. Films will highlight the Pacific Rim, the beautiful area of the world that we call home. In selecting the films to be shown, the organizers say their goal is “to entertain our film goers, inspire them to get involved in issues that speak to them, and enlighten them about environmental issues, social concerns and humanitarian efforts.” Films will be shown in four island venues (all within walking distance of the ferry) over the course of the Festival’s three days, and there will be a number of special events as well, including the very popular Filmmakers’ Forum. Film-goers will vote on their favorite films, and at the conclusion of the event, awards will be presented to the audience favorite, as well as to 12

Springtide 2015 / 16

the best films in each of the festival’s categories ("Tales from the Heart,” "Explorers and Adventures,” “Issues to Consider,” “Local Heroes" and short films). Since its inception, the Friday Harbor Film Festival has become an event that is truly a community effort, with over 60 local businesses and organizations providing financial support and/or in-kind donations, and over 150 volunteers working both before and during the event to ensure that everything goes smoothly and film-goers have a memorable experience. To help support long-term goals and mission, the Friday Harbor Film Festival Society has been launched. In becoming a member, you will help ensure that this event continues into the future, providing a unique opportunity for all of us to see a variety of important, meaningful films. The society provides several levels of membership; for more info or to sign up for membership in the society, go to the website at www.fhff.org or contact Diana Stepita at society@fhff.org. More information about the festival can be found at www.fhff.org. To sign up for the newsletter, send an email to info@fhff.org.

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The documentary public ry 7, 20151 Marty Zier photo Spir 4the at the screening of “The Barefoot recipie Janua er in Olympia, Members of Orcas Island Rowing jumped into Cascade Lake during the108 team’s annual “Polar Bear screenings Issue 201 also had ckl ic Bandit Documentary” at the Sea mus Plunge” on New Year’s Day. For more photos of community membersVol. braving the cold, see page 8. zen Portland m& rol Ste Mt. Vernon, cutlery View Theater on Thursday, Jan. Stanwood,

SOUNDER THE ISLANDS’

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WEDNESDAY, January 7, 2015  VOL. 48, NO. 1  75¢  islandssounder.com

Colton Harris-Moore documentary to be screened on Orcas

Plunging into the new year

Journal

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by EMILY GREENBERG Journal Reporter

The newborn calf in J-pod is a welcomed addition to the population in peril, but only time will tell who its mother is. The Center for Whale Research confirmed seeing and photographing 42-year-old J-16 with, presumably, her newborn baby, off the south shores of North Pender Island in Canadian waters Dec. 30. The baby, known as J-50, is the second calf to be born in 2014, after a two-year lull of no births among the southern resident killer whales. The calf appeared to be healthy and energetic, swimming alongside its presumed mother. However, researchers immediately recognized some peculiarity surrounding its birth. J-16 was not expected to be carrying a calf due to her advanced age and no other female has given birth at over 42 years of age in the four decades of demographic field studies of the southern resident orcas. Researchers speculated that J-16’s daughter,

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He said the calf was seen and vol29. be settled the next time we encounter these swimming away from J-16 and had to be corFriday at 3 p.m. organizers local famCount ralled back to its presumed mother by other whales. Or, it may take some time.” banks, work with unteers ce centers, food The birth of J-50 comes at the end of a rocky members of J-pod. providers, ily resour healthcare the sherThese behaviors could indicate that J-36 is year for the southern residents. The populaes, Office: 376-4500 churches, s, librari other comtion, which was declared endangered in 2005, the mother, and the calf was swimming away senior centerand many providers suffered four deaths in 2014. The birth of J-50 because its mother was several miles behind. Fax: 1-888-562-8818 service iff ’s office, If J-36 is the mother, this would be her first support brings it back up to 78, a 30-year low nonethey of munit ct the count. Advertising: advertising@ state known calf. But because orcas can spontaneless. in to condu ed by the islandssounder.com the Point the Oddities surrounding the birth of J-50 ously abort a fetus, it’s impossible to rule out Initiat in 2005, at appeared to Balcomb and his team when they previous pregnancies. Classified: 1-800-388-2527, Washington is conducted While the nearly full-term pregnant female, discovered that the newborn had teeth marks Time count y each year. the day classifieds@ Whale Research on / Center for on its dorsal fin. This could indicate a difficult J-32, was found dead in December with the to end of Januar ed photo time by not open soundpublishing.com Contribut authorized for the first old. Agencies birth, in which another whale may have had to first “known” calf was in her uterus, her ovaspotted count are n 4-10 days Editor: editor@ whale was use its mouth to help pull the baby out of its 2 of the , J-16. 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By Cali Bagby

obin Jacobson loves local history, whether she is helping people find their ancestors’ graves or digging up island ghost stories. “People are fascinated with the unknown and the concept of death,” Jacobson said. “So when you combine them, it is really a powerful thing.” As a local genealogist, she has spent years researching at the San Juan Historical Museum and Washington State Archives online and in their Olympia office. She has also talked to local residents about historic buildings dating back to the late 19th century and other areas that may be potential haunting grounds for ghosts – not because she believes in ghosts, but because it is a way to engage people with history. “Ghost tales passed down over time become valuable as part of the ‘lore’ of the building or site – distinguishable from what we know to be true,” said Sandy Strehlou, Town of Friday Harbor historic preservation coordinator, who is also interested in uncovering ghost stories. Jacobson and Strehlou’s research has uncovered local ghost stories abound – from eerie happenings at Rosario Resort to a hanging and haunting in Friday Harbor. The Case of Alice Rheem Orcas Island residents have spotted what is believed to be the spirit of Alice Rheem, whose husband Donald purchased the Rosario Resort property in 1938. Rosario was Donald’s vacation home for 20 years, but Alice lived there permanently. According to Rosario’s General Manager Christopher Peacock, Alice was quite a character. “She liked to party and was very playful,” he said. “I think her spirit is continuing that playfulness.” Alice was known for driving into town on her Harley motorcycle, dressed in a red negligee, to play cards with the local boys. Most of the ghostly incidences at the mansion involve the sounds of high heels clicking across teak floors. When the mansion was shut down briefly in 2008, caretakers often heard someone moving about on the second floor only to find that no one was there. Another employee felt someone push in her chair, but she was alone in the room. Peacock added that a paranormal investigation was once held at the mansion and a “high level of activity was found.”

The Case of Richard Straub In 1895, Richard Straub killed Leon Lanterman on Blakely Island. Straub, a school teacher with a history of anger management issues, claimed he killed Lanterman while defending a teenager named Irving Parberry. After the incident Straub and Parberry rowed to San Juan Island and Straub confessed to authorities. “It’s a really sad story,” Jacobson said. “He probably didn’t think he would be hanged.” After the confession, Straub spent two years shuffling between the San Juan Island and Bellingham jails. While in Friday Harbor, he stayed in the jail now located on the San Juan Historical Museum grounds. Straub was tried at the Odd Fellows Hall, now the Whale Museum, and found guilty. According to Jacobson’s research, some spectators viewed the hanging, the only one ever held on San Juan, from the second floor of the Odd Fellows Hall. That floor is where people now claim to feel a ghostly presence exuding a positive or neutral energy. Jacobson said she doesn’t believe in ghosts, but she said if spirits did exist, Straub would have a reason to haunt the museum at the scene of the trial, where he was found guilty. Jacobson said there is another possible historical figure who could be haunting the museum: Sheriff Newton Jones. “I’ve heard from descendants that he was never the same after 1895, when Straub was hanged,” said Jacobson. Soon after the trial, Jones’ wife died, and he moved off the island, never to return – at least not in human form. The Most Mysterious Cases Some island ghost stories leave a lot to the imagination. There was a house on False Bay, San Juan Island, often referred to as the Cry Baby House, which burned down sometime in the 1990s. Only a field remains – and the stories of a ghostly crying baby that once haunted the building. Another tale with little historical connections is the sighting of a bride in an old-fashioned wedding dress on Roche Harbor Road. Then there were reports of three teens looking “not quite alive,” also on Roche Harbor Road in the 1990s. For Strehlou, who has never experienced a ghostly presence herself, her interest lies in the stories behind these sightings and the unanswered questions. Did Sheriff Jones really become a broken man after the Straub trial? Was there a bride that met her end on Roche Harbor Road? “Ghost stories, tall tales and local lore are part of who we are as a community,” Strehlou said. “If nothing else, they are another of the countless shared experiences that make our place – this place – unique. When they are tied to a building or site, they give us another reason to recall history and to wonder about what came before.”

E xcellent retirement apartments for your loved one in our beautiful setting

By Meredith M. Griffith

This magnificent assisted living facility is ideally located near the center of Friday Harbor on beautiful San Juan Island.

o hear Tari Gunstone tell it, everything began with “The Cheese Nun” of Connecticut, Sister Noella Marcellino. “She’s a microbiologist, so she really knows her stuff,” says Gunstone, who has worked as a “cheese apprentice” at Shaw Island’s Our Lady of the Rock Benedictine monastery. Marcellino shared her expertise with the Shaw monastery’s Mother Prioress (Mother Thérese), and now the outside world can enjoy artisan farmstead cheeses ripened from the raw milk of the monastery’s two Jersey cows. Keep your eyes open at island farmers’ markets for this treat. Gunstone, a native of Portland, Ore., is a professional photographer who chose an internship at Our Lady of the Rock as the path to a perfect summer. “I’ve always considered myself a spiritual seeker,” she said. “There’s something about monasticism that I’m drawn to; the self-denial of consumerism and the pettiness of the outside world is intriguing to me. I’m trying to make my life more contemplative and inward-focused.” Gunstone hopes to someday create a book photo-documenting the monastic life in a wide variety of monasteries across the country. And since her family used to summer in the San Juans on her parents’ boat, she knew the islands were a beautiful place to begin. Based on Gunstone’s interests, the seven “mothers” of the monastery assigned her to cheese-making and caring for the monastery’s Cotswold sheep during lambing season. Her fellow intern, Holly Kemp, has been dubbed “The Fiber Queen” due to her interest in working with wool. The mothers also raise Highland cattle, alpacas, llamas, chickens and turkeys. Gunstone said she has really enjoyed the monastery’s approach to her internship. “It’s been really amazing to experience the mothers’ learning to trust me and give me responsibility with the farm work,” she said. “They really allow for a lot of autonomy with the work.”

We are adjacent to shopping, the senior center, the library, churches and medical facilities. Short stay suites are offered for respite and/or convalescence from an injury or surgery.

Village at the

Harbour

Above: Mother Prioress milks a Jersey cow. Below left: Some of the Monestary’s cheese. Teri Gunstone photo

She said the lack of micro-management has allowed her to grow and learn through trial and error. Cheese was once traditionally aged in caves, but the monastery’s cave is too wet for cheese-making. So the mothers use a full-sized wine cooler to maintain a steady 55 degrees. The simple farmstead cheese wheels are made using only “a bit of salt” and vegetable rennet, no mold or added cultures. “The cheese just takes on the natural flavors of the milk that day and the molds that ripen on the outside,” said Gunstone. “Each one is different.” It takes four gallons of milk to create three pounds of aged cheese, and though the cheese is made weekly, it must age 60 days before sale. The cheeses are regularly sold at the monastery and the Shaw general store. Gunstone said she is enjoying her experience of the monastic culture. “It’s a lifestyle and a community that almost feels like it could go extinct,” she expressed. “I think it’s a draw in my generation to get back to the root of things [and care] less about the rat race, and I think monastics do that really well.” “Ultimately,” she added, “my favorite experience is living on Shaw Island – to walk into the woods and be totally alone, or spend an afternoon at the beach totally by myself.”

Read more about nuns and cheese • PBS released a documentary about Marcellino entitled “The Cheese Nun” in 2006. • Find out more at www.amazon.com/The-Cheese-Sister-Noella-Marcellino/dp/B000FGG62K

(360) 378-7144

www.villageattheharbour.com

Emerald Broach necklace. One of many grand choices at...

San Juan

Jewels 260 Spring St. (360) 378-5877

Springtide 2015 / 16

Anne Willis photo

By Cali Bagby

n Lopez Island you will find everything from rolling hills to a new skate park, to great live music to pristine beaches, and roads that cars must often share with flocks of sheep. Beyond what you see at first glance, Lopez has at its core a rich sense of community with its 2,500 year-round residents. Visitors will find this spirit as soon as they get off the ferry since islanders known as “Lopezians” wave as a way to say hello to everyone, even strangers. So do not be alarmed. Simply wave at every car you pass. You will have 15 miles to cruise and 63 miles of shoreline to explore. It only takes a 45-minute ferry ride from Anacortes to get to Lopez Island, which will give you just enough time to get a look at some of the beautiful scenery. Then it is just a four-mile drive to the village, the hub of the island. If you arrive on bike you can tour the flat terrain, which makes it a popular cycling destination for visitors from across the country. So popular that the island hosts the Tour de Lopez, an annual non-competitive bicycle tour through the scenic landscape of the island on the last weekend in April. The spectacular beaches and views should be added to every visitor’s to-do list. Odlin County Park and Spencer Spit State Park are great 18

Springtide 2015 / 16

places to enjoy a barbecue or a picnic while winged wildlife like bald eagles and osprey fly overhead. Iceberg Point, Shark Reef Park and Watmough Head offer solitude and beauty. Lopez also touts a wealth of farmland: grazing sheep and herds of cattle, as well as farmers who feature such local products as Kobe beef, organic strawberries and grapes for wine. Throughout the year look for different activities, like the fourth of July events, which include a renowned fireworks show, live music, a parade and more. Year-round you should check out a wide array of musical events at the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, the Galley Restaurant and Lounge or the historic Woodmen Hall. Also, check the bulletin boards at the markets for announcements on a wealth of art shows, concerts and cultural and social events, which occur year-round. Visitors can spend time browsing through the various shops and stop for lunch or have a coffee at one of the cafes or eateries. In the village, you’ll also find the Historical Museum, Thrift Shop, bank, community center, library, medical clinic, fire stations, post office and skate park. In the center of the island, you’ll find Lopez School and the hardware and lumber store. Accommodations on the island include a motel, bed and breakfasts, vacation home rentals and three campgrounds. Lopez Island offers the serenity of a small town, but also provides enough activities to make your stay a memorable trip.

ATMs

• Islanders Bank, Lopez Village • Lopez Village Market, Lopez Village

Ferry Information

• Washington State Ferries: 511 in state or 1-888-808-7977

Fuel

• Lopez Garage, 360-468-2228 • Lopez Village Market, 360-468-2266 • Southend General Store and Restaurant, 360-468-2315

Groceries and Supplies

• Blossom Organic Groceries, 360-468-2204 • Lopez Village Market, 360-468-2266 • Southend General Store and Restaurant, 360-468-2315

Medical

• Lopez Island Medical Clinic, 360-468-2245

Pharmacy

• Lopez Island Pharmacy, 360-468-2616

Restrooms

• Ferry landing • Lopez Village and Odlin Park • Shark Reef Park • Spencer Spit State Park

Visitor Information

• Lopez Chamber of Commerce, 360-468-4664, www.lopezisland.com • San Juans Visitors Bureau, 360-378-3277, www.visitsanjuans.com

Veterinary Services

• Ark Veterinary Clinic, 360-468-2477 • Community Animal Health, 360-468-2553 • Emergency 911 (for medical, fire and police)

Outdoor Activities

• Natural wonders (page 7) • Family Activities (page 29) • Farmers’ markets (page 34) • Camping and hiking (pg 28, 35) Above: Hummel Lake. Below: A sheep in the countryside. George Willis photo

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groceries, restaurant, wines, beer & gifts local produce & meats•video rentals 3024 mud bay road•360.468.2315

In the Village 360-468-4664 • lopezisland.com

Southend Restaurant Thursday-Saturday 11:30-8

Lopez Center

for Community and the Arts

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Sunday Breakfast 9-12 Beer-Wine-Great Food Delicious Baked Goods Weekend Specials, Deli To Go Items southendgeneralstore andrestaurant.com

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Perfect for your wedding, meeting, anniversary, birthday, family gathering, or special event

Reservation & Event info: office@lopezcenter.org lopezcenter.org • 360-468-2203

Established 1972

Lopez Island Realty Gary Berg, Broker-Owner P.O. Box 9, Lopez, WA 98261

Toll free: 1-866-632-1100 Email: lopezisland@rockisland.com Website: lopezislandrealty.com

468-2315

A Lopez Tradition

WOODMEN HALL

steve horn photography

(360) 468-3092 or (360) 468-4056 Lopez Island

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The perfect venue for your event. Weddings, birthdays, memorials, fundraisers, music programs, plays. All the amenities you need for your event: Stage, sound and lighting systems, table settings, professional kitchen, and more.

Sponsored by The Friends of Woodmen Hall

Fine Art Fanciful Clothing Home Decor Open Daily at Noon Bay Building in Lopez Village 360.468.4910 gallery10colleen@gmail.com 20

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Lopez Village Market 162 Weeks Road, Lopez Island,WA BBQ & Camping Supplies Fresh Produce, Meat & Seafood Bonnie’s Deli Groceries, Beer & Wine

Locally Owned Since 1959

360-468-2266

A few facts about local propane

VANDERYACHT www. vanderyachtpropane.com

Locally owned and operated The VanderYacht family has over 60 years experience in the propane industry NO CHARGE for tank switch outs • Complimentary gas safety check Competitive prices • Emergency service • WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL

• We may not carry the local “San Juan” name but we are the local company, not the national chain based in Pennsylvania. • Biggest is not always best in the propane industry. Small in this industry can usually provide lower costs to the customer. • We consistently provide a lower price per gallon. We don’t have stockholders all over the country that need to be paid. Our regulatory and compliance fees are less than half the cost of our competitor. • When the owners shop in the same communities as their customers, they are more accountable; there is no “corporate management” to blame.

Orcas Island 300 Seaview St, 360-376-5591 Friday Harbor 824 Mullis St, 360-370-5511 Burlington 1636 Walton Dr, 360-707-5550 Whidbey Island Toll Free 1-888-557-6778 Lynden 6811 Guide Meridian Rd, 360-398-1234

November 6-7-8, 2015 3 rd Annual !

San Juan Island, WA “Stories of the Pacific Rim” Entertain * Inspire * Enlighten

Serving ALL your shopping needs.

• Meat • Produce • Grocery • Fresh Deli • In-Store Bakery • Beer, Wine, Spirits • ATM and Lotto

Located in downtown Eastsound at the head of East Sound Bay. Within walking distance of public dock.

Extended summer hours Mon- Sat 7am- 10pm & Sun 8am- 8pm (May 18th – September 12th) Regular business hours Mon- Sat 7am- 9pm & Sun 8am- 8pm www.orcasislandmarket.com • P.O. Box 186, Eastsound WA • 360-376-6000

By Scott Rasmussen

You can take it fast or you can take it slow.

You can go the full distance, 31 miles roundtrip, or you can call it quits anywhere along the way, or whenever you feel the tug to retire from the roadway or the spirit moves. It may well be the “make-itup-as-you-go” nature of the annual bicycle

tour hosted by Lopez Island, the Tour de Lopez, that makes this April event the true kickoff to the tourist season in the San Juans. While Memorial Day has long been thought of as the official start to the season, the yearly arrival of some 900 or so bicycle enthusiasts to the second smallest of the San Juans’ ferry-served islands

should serve to put that long-held notion to rest. Its popularity can’t be denied. Sponsored by the Lopez Chamber, the Tour de Lopez, now in its 13th cycle, is a non-competitive road rally featuring four marked routes of varying distance: five, 12, 18 and 31 miles. For more info or to register for the 2016 Tour de Lopez, visit www.lopezisland.com.

PERMANENT MOORAGE IN THE SAN JUANS New cement docks, very private marina On-site security, full-time management • 30/50/100 amp shore power service • Wi-Fi, sea plane access • On-site yacht services • 40’, 50’, 110’ end ties • •

(360) 468-2077 • Lopez Island

Springtide 2015 / 16

Nate Feder photo

By Colleen Smith Armstrong

eople are often surprised to learn that Orcas Island takes its name not from the orca whales that inhabit the Salish Sea but from a Mexican viceroy, Don Juan Vicente de Guemes Pacheco Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo Conde de Revilla Gigedo, a patron of Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza who charted the islands in 1791. The explorer must have been intrigued by the emerald isle, which is uniquely shaped like a horseshoe, has 56.9 square miles of rolling hills, numerous beaches and old growth forests. Geographically, Orcas is the largest of the islands with a population of 5,387, making it slightly less populated than its neighbor San Juan Island. Visitors to Orcas will find a number of bed and breakfasts, inns and hotels scattered across the island, all run by friendly residents. A variety of shops display the work of local artists, hand-made soaps, jewelry and more. The restaurants and cafes on Orcas offer a wide range of appealing cuisine that can satisfy virtually any palate. Most of the island roads are rural and hilly, creating a scenic, and sometimes challenging, ride for cyclists while offering drivers easy access the island’s beauty. The Orcas Island ferry landing is located at the south end of the western leg of the “horseshoe” that surrounds the body of

Springtide 2015 / 16

water known as East Sound – not to be confused with the town of Eastsound. The Orcas ferry landing hosts accommodations, restaurants, a gourmet grocery and deli, post office, small shops, a public dock, boat rentals, whale watching, a water taxi, car and moped rentals and a taxi service. To the east lies a woodsy residential area along Killebrew Lake Road. Turning left from the landing will put you on Orcas Road, a winding, scenic drive through the heart of the island, eventually leading to the town of Eastsound, the commercial center of Orcas, located at the northern end of the island. Eastsound Eastsound is home to an array of charming shops, restaurants and specialty boutiques. You’ll find a public library, a historical museum, grocery stores, a pharmacy, restaurants and more. Eastsound is also a great place to rent a kayak or sign up for a whale watch tour right in town. Three public parks line the northern and southern flanks of Eastsound. Buck Park on Mt. Baker Road has a playground, skate park and soccer fields. Orcas Center offers an eclectic variety of musical, theatre and artistic shows throughout the year. Heading south on Terrill Road, you will merge with the Orcas-to-Olga Highway traveling south along the eastern leg of the “horseshoe” to a number of destinations including Rosario and Moran State Park.

reservations, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/ Ferries/TakeaFerry.

Groceries

ATMs

• Country Corner, corner of Terrill Beach and Crescent Beach Roads, 360-376-6900 • Island Market, Eastsound, 360-376-6000 • Islanders Bank, Eastsound, 360-376-2265 • Key Bank, Eastsound, 360376-2211 • Orcas Village Store, FerryLanding, 360-376-8860 • Ray’s Pharmacy, Eastsound, 360-376-2230 • Village Stop, Eastsound, 360-376-2093

Convenience Stores

• Cascade Bay Grill and Dockside General Store, Rosario, 360-376-2222 • Country Corner, corner of Terrill Beach and Crescent Beach Roads, 360-376-6900 • Deer Harbor Marina, Deer Harbor, 360-376-3037 • Village Stop, Eastsound, 360-376-2093 • West Beach Resort, West Beach, 360-376-2240

Ferry Information

• Washington State Ferries: 511 in state; 360-3766253 at Orcas Landing; 888-808-7977, www.wsdot/ wa.gov/ferries. For ferry

• Cascade Bay Grill and Dockside General Store, Rosario, 360-3762222 • Island Market, Eastsound, 360-376-6000 • Orcas Food Co-op, Eastsound, 360-376-2009 • Orcas Village Store, Ferry Landing, 360-376-8860

Medical

• Orcas Family Health Center, 1286 Mount Baker Rd., Eastsound, 360-376-7778 • Orcas Island Family Medicine, 33 Urner St., Suite 5, Eastsound, 360-376-4949 • Orcas Medical Center, 7 Deye Ln. (next to Orcas Center) Eastsound, 360-376-2561

Pharmacy

• Ray’s Pharmacy, Eastsound, 360-376-2230

Public Restrooms

• Eastsound Village Square, Ferry Landing, Moran State Park, Orcas Island Library

Transportation

• Orcas Island Shuttle and Rental Car, 360-3767433, www.orcasislandshuttle.com • Orcas Island Taxi, 360-376-6900

West Sound, Deer Harbor and West beach Let’s not forget West Sound and sunny Deer Harbor, which are on the southwestern prong of Orcas Island. West Sound features a cafe, a public dock and marina where float planes disembark. The small hamlet of Deer Harbor has lodging, a restaurant and two marinas offering kayak, boat and whale watching tours. You should also visit the West Beach Resort, perfect for a family retreat or romantic getaway. Stop by the beach front patio and enjoy local beer, wine and gourmet ice cream.

• Orcas Mopeds, 65 Orcas Hill Rd., Orcas, 360-3765266 • San Juan Transit, 360-3788887 or 800-887-8387, www.sanjuantransit.com

Service Stations

• Country Corner, corner of Terrill Beach and Crescent Beach Roads, 360-376-6900 • Crescent Service, Crescent Beach Rd. just east of Eastsound, 360-376-4076 • Island Hardware (gas/ biodiesel), Crow Valley Rd. west of Eastsound, 360376-4200

Towing

• Eastsound Towing, 360376-5855 • Orcas Towing, 24-hr, 360376-8697

Travel Information

• Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce, Eastsound, 360-376-2273 • San Juan Islands Visitor Bureau, Friday Harbor, 360378-3277

Veterinary

• Jill Bates, Eastsound, 360376-2675 • Orcas Veterinary Service, Eastsound, 360-376-6374

Outdoor Activities

• Natural wonders (page 7) • Family activities (page 29) • Farmers’ markets (page 34) • Camping and hiking (pg 28, 35)

West Beach Resort also rents kayaks, canoes and fishing gear. Moran State Park & Rosario Historic Rosario sits on the beautiful Cascade Bay. The Moran mansion was built in 1906 and is a must-see whether you are a guest or not. The mansion is a museum of Orcas history, including tales of a ghost in a red dress. The marina is a perfect spot for wildlife viewing. Just south of the Rosario entrance, Olga Road enters Moran State Park, a 5,252-acre park that features camping, five freshwater lakes and more than 30 miles of hiking trails. Park

Solstice Parade on Orcas. Colleen Smith Armstrong photo

visitors can also travel to the top of Mt. Constitution, the highest point in the San Juan Islands at 2,409 feet. A tower built by Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936 crowns Mt. Consitituion and offers breathtaking vistas of the islands, Mt. Baker and even Mt. Rainer on bluebird days. Olga Continuing south beyond the park, you will arrive in the village of Olga. Visit the Orcas Island Artworks, Catkin Cafe and James Hardman Gallery in the historic Strawberry Building. Obstruction Pass State

Park is located just another bend or two down the road. Doe Bay If you stay on the main road, you will soon arrive at the hamlet of Doe Bay, an historic resort with delicious food, clothing-optional hot tubs, open mic nights, rustic accommodations and a charming general store. No matter where you go on Orcas you’ll encounter stunning scenery and experience the island’s perfect mix of excitement and tranquility. Have fun choosing what to explore! For more information and maps of Orcas Island call 376-2273. Springtide 2015 / 16

By Bob Myhr

hether a steep climb up Mount Constitution or a stroll along the side of a less-traveled road, opportunities to enjoy a walk in the islands abound. There are never ending choices to get out and stretch your legs. Here are a few ideas and websites: On Orcas, try the perennial well-marked favorites in Moran State Park: the level paths around Cascade or Mountain Lakes, or take the climb all the way to the lookout on Mount Constitution (parks. wa.gov/Moran). Over on the westside are the two new challenging, but view-rewarding, land bank hikes up Turtleback Mountain. The southeast Morning Ridge Trail provides a gentler initial grade and connects to the Ship Peak Overlook on the way to the summit and on over to North Trail/Waldron Overlook (sjclandbank.org). On San Juan, beyond the sidewalks of Friday Harbor, the San Juan Island National Historical Park affords walking adventures at American Camp with sweeping views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca

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Contributed photo

and possible orca whale sightings. To the northwest, English Camp has trails to the open Parade Ground, through the woods, and up to the cemetery and breathtaking views to Canada from the top of Mount Young. Connector trails lead to Roche Harbor Highlands and the Mitchell Hill property (nps.gov/sajh/). The quiet roads on Shaw are great for walking. From the ferry hike Blind Bay Road to Squaw Bay Road, and on to Indian Cove Road to Shaw South Beach County Park or to the end of Hoffman Cove Road (wta.org). On southeast Lopez, the San Juan Islands National Monument lands of Iceberg Point or Point Colville and Chadwick Hill provide trails that emerge from quiet woodlands out to great views of Admiralty Inlet (blm.gov/or/districts). Or on southwest Lopez hike into Shark Reef Sanctuary (sanjuanco.com/parks), or head to central Lopez, and to the highest point on the friendly isle, Lopez Hill (lopezhill.org).

Moon Glow

Arts

& Crafts

• Stickers king • Beads Scrapboo supplies for all art source local The Arts & Crafts Supplies paints, including adults & kids for ng Day Saturday May 2nd National Scrapbooki OFF 30% inven torymarkers, ing canvas, paper, brushes, Scrap book All Inspired! :00 • Keep 10:00-5pens, Thru Sat.paint Mon.pencils, Open scissors, pens, 376-4994 • 109 North Beach Road • Unit D2 calligraphy, origami, craft supplies & project kits, scrapbooking, beads and ﬁndings and candle and soap making supplies. Party supplies, gifts for all ages, and souvenirs too. 376-4994

Siren Boutique

The shop offers a large selection of women's clothing, shoes, accessories, gifts and jewelry. The store's owner hand selects treasured pieces each season to ensure a truly unique shopping experience. 317-6958

By Scott Rasmussen

hildren and grown-ups don't always see eye-to-eye on what ingredients go into a grand adventure. There are exceptions, of course, but it is the rare 8-year-old who can maintain their interest for very long, or focus and decorum, during a tour of any historical museum, no matter how well the story is told. Still, most parents also know there is no better day or cache of memories more heartwarming than of those outings in which every member of the family is excited, happy and engaged. So, it is with a good degree of confidence that we offer the suggestions below as places and activities where the entire family will find common ground. Orcas Island The top draw for family activity on Orcas Island is Moran State Park. There you can rent a peddle-boat for an excursion out on Cascade Lake, lunch at the picnic tables, cast from the fishing dock or follow the trail to the "jumping tree" that leans out over the lake. There is a playground and a swimming area at Cascade Lake, so don't forget the shovels, buckets, snorkels and fins. In Eastsound Village, Buck Park features a world-class skatepark, soccer and softball fields, playgrounds and tennis and basketball courts. The Village Green and Waterfront Park are both an ideal location where one can spread out a blanket, enjoy a picnic and kick back for a bit. Eastsound is also home to The Funhouse-Commons play center, which offers a wide array of activities for kids (for more on the Funhouse, visit www.thefunhous.org). Lopez Island Known as the most forgiving island for bicyclists, Lopez Island's gentle terrain allows for leisurely rides, perfect if you are pulling a tot-trailer. You can comb the beach, romp in the woods or have a pick-up game on the softball field at Odlin Park, located about a mile from the ferry landing. Spencer Spit State Park, situated on the waterfront of Lopez Sound, is just a stone's throw away from Odlin. At the south end of the island, Shark Reef Park and Agate Beach County Park are both perfect spots for a picnic. Lopez Village is home to a popular skatepark and Family Resource Center, which offers an assortment of workshops for all ages, including sports camps, kayak lessons, art classes, daily outdoor explorations and sailing lessons. For more about the resource center and its summertime offerings, visit www.lifrc.org. San Juan Island The natural beauty of the island’s west side is sure to capture the imagination of every adult, and there’s enough room to roam and recreational opportunities to suit just about any child. At Lime Kiln State Park, you can watch for killer whales, tour the lighthouse or a take a trek on any of its many trails. South Beach hosts the island’s longest stretch of walkable waterfront and a lively surf, on some days, as well. A fox sitting in wait of an

SEE ACTIVITIES PG. 34

• Full service fitness center offers training, group fitness classes, an indoor pool, hot tub and sauna • Orcas CrossFit classes will help you achieve your fitness goals and reach limits that you didn’t think were possible. We are the only Crossfit facility on Orcas. 376-6361 188 A Street • Eastsound www.OrcasAthletics.com

Shinola Jewelry Goldsmith & Jeweler 172 North Beach Rd Eastsound, Orcas Is. (360) 376-4508 vance@shinolajewelry.com

Come to beautiful Orcas Island and experience touring in a 1912 Stanley Steamer, as it was done 100 years ago. One hundred years ago the Stanley Automobile Company had developed the most powerful and dependable automobiles made in America. For many years, Washington's mountains were home to a fleet of these machines.

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OPEN ALL YEAR

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• • • • • • •

Competitive rates On island staff 24/7 & emergency service Free gas check Free home estimates Free tank replacement Propane appliance installation & service Ask about RINNAI on demand water heaters Orcas 360-376-2215 1593 Mt. Baker Rd. Suite A Eastsound, WA 98245

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Springtide 2015 / 16

ing and engaging exhibitions and lectures. Local artists offer arts and crafts at the Farmers’ Markets. The Orcas Chamber Music Festival is a year-long program, and Island Stage Left in Friday Harbor offers Shakespeare every summer and performances indoors the rest of the year.

Art Museums

Cali Bagby photo

By Dennis Ryan

San Juans Arts Council

he islands are alive with art, as evidenced in the annual free, art studio tours (San Juan Island: June 6-7, Orcas Island: August 14-16, Lopez Island: August 5-6) and programs offered at performing arts centers on each of the main islands. Year-round, galleries on the islands feature a full range of fine arts and crafts, many are associated with the sense of place qualities of the San Juan archipelago – a combination of the sea, unique land forms and the associated flora and fauna, the Pacific Northwest maritime climate and the history and arts of the native culture. In Friday Harbor, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art presents inspir-

Orcas Island • Lambiel Museum, by appointment, every day, 360376-4544, lambielmuseum.org San Juan Island • San Juan Island Museum of Art, 540 Spring St., Friday Harbor, Thurs. -Sun., 360-370-5050, www. sjima.org • Westcott Bay Sculpture Park, Roche Harbor, 360-370-5050, www.sjima.org

Performing Arts Lopez Island • Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, 204 Village Rd., 360-468 2203, www. lopezcenter.org • Woodmen Hall, 4102 Fisherman Bay Rd., www. friendsofwoodmenhall.org Orcas Island • Orcas Center, 917 Mount Baker Rd., Eastsound, 360376-2281, orcascenter.org • Odd Fellows Hall, 112 Haven Rd., Eastsound, 360-3765640, www.oddshall.org

• Orcas Grange/Actors Theater of Orcas, Orcas Rd., Eastsound, 360-317-5601, www. orcasactors.com San Juan Island • Island Stage Left, 1062 Wold Rd., San Juan Island, 360-3785649, www.islandstageleft. org • San Juan Community Theatre, 100 Second St., Friday Harbor, 360-378-3210, www. sjctheatre.org

Galleries and Studios Lopez Island • Jean Behnke, studio and art consultant, by appointment, 360-468-3893 • Chimera Gallery, Artist’s Cooperative, Lopez Village, 360468-3265, chimeragallery.com • Colin Goode Gallery and Studio, Thurs.-Sun. 10-5, 95 Village Rd., 360-468-4715,colingoodegallery.com • Gallery 10, Colleen James, open daily at noon, Lopez Village, 360-468-4910 • Heart Days, 222 Cross Rd., May-Sept., 360-468-2913 • Island Fibers, 4208 Port Stanley Rd., by appointment, 468-2467, islandfibers.com • Lopez Co-op of Fine Craft Artisans, 265 Lopez Rd., 360468-3818 • Lydia Arts, by appointment, 360-468-4998 • Christa Malay Studios and Gallery, 341 Shoal Bay Ln., 360-4682159, christamalay.com

• Red House Pottery, Jeffrey Hanks, 94 Islandale Rd., 360468-3028 • Ron Norman Metal Sculpture, by appointment, 360468-3642 • Steve Horn Photography, Friendly Isle Building, Lopez Village, 360-4682100, www.stevehorn.net • The Quilter’s Studio, Anne Dawson, 77 Village Rd., 360-468-4677 • Windswept Studios to Fine Art, 783 Port Stanley Rd., windsweptstudios.com Orcas Island • Crow Valley Pottery (The Cabin), 2274 Orcas Road, 360-376-4260, www.crowvalley.com • Crow Valley Pottery and Gallery, 296 Main St., Eastsound, 360-376-5260, www. crowvalley.com • The Gallery, 374 North Beach Rd. • Gayle Keith Ashley Gallery/ Studio, 109 North Beach Rd., Eastsound Square, 360-3763878, thecreativeedgegallery. com • Howe Art Gallery, 1/4 mile west of Eastsound, 360-3762945 • Orcas Art Studios, 1286 Mt. Baker Rd., Suite A4, Eastsound. • Orcas Island Artworks, 6546 Olga Rd., Olga, 360-376-4408 • Orcas Island Pottery, Old Pottery Rd., Eastsound, 360-376-2813

On Stage and On Screen… Orcas Center will entertain you!

In Eastsound, on Mt. Baker Rd.

Music • Dance • Theater • Live Streaming Check out our season at www.OrcasCenter.org Springtide 2015 / 16

Outdoor dining Fresh squeezed lime margaritas Delicious Mexican cuisine! For dinner reservations please call 360.376.ORCA (6722) 310 A St. Eastsound WA 98245

Open from 4 - 9 pm Happy Hour 4 - 5 pm

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DOWNTOWN EASTSOUND ON ORCAS ISLAND MADRONABARANDGRILL.COM (360)376-7171

Left: A "living carpet" at Iceberg Point of mosses and lichens. Right: A flower meadow on Indian Island. Russel Barsh photos

By Russel Barsh and Madrona Murphy

he most cherished scenic viewpoints in the islands are rocky outcrops and sandy bluffs along our shorelines. Most of them are, or until recently were, wildflower meadows flush with purple, pink, yellow and red blooms from April to June. Our coastal meadows are disappearing, however. The very fabric that holds them together is becoming lost. Look closely at a relatively undisturbed island wildflower meadow, down beneath the leaves and stems, and you will find a continuous carpet of lichens and mosses. Along our arid south facing coasts and bluffs, this carpet will be thin, crisp and firm throughout the summer. At higher elevations, along streams and in the shade of trees, the carpet may be thick and soft, often topped by pillows of crunchy paler green “reindeer moss,” which is actually a lichen. Moss-lichen carpets are an essential part of the development and maintenance of wildflower meadows in the San Juan Islands. Our landscapes are very young, covered by glaciers until less than 10,000 years ago. Glaciers scraped off vegetation and soils down to bare rock, which the ice ground down and polished. When the glaciers melted, lichens

were first to bring life to the bare rocks. Lichens are tough pioneers. Their leathery bodies are made of fungi that can use very weak organic acids to de-mineralize rocks. Inside the fungal envelopes are gardens of captive algae and cyanobacteria that photosynthesize, fixing nitrogen and carbon from the air. As lichens grow, spread and age, they build a thin layer of Watch, photograph, organic materials and admire, enjoy nutrients, but do not tread! and retain water: a perfect habitat for mosses and, eventually, sprouting seeds. Imagine the moss-lichen carpet as a living geo-textile that gradually covers bare rocks and shingle with a thin but very fertile habitat for wildflowers. Tearing this fabric releases water in summer and allows thin, young soils to be washed away in winter. An awesome field of wildflowers can turn back into bare sand and rock, reversing centuries of natural landscape development. It takes only a few pairs of hiking boots to damage a moss-lichen carpet irreversibly. Wherever people tread, moreover, they

bring grass and weed seeds on shoes and clothing. If there is sufficient moisture, bare or scuffed ground quickly fills with grasses and the kinds of weeds that grow in lawns. Many popular scenic viewpoints in the islands are looking less like Salish Sea wildflower meadows and more like suburban lawns every year. The solution is simple: watch, photograph, admire, enjoy - but do not tread! Wildflower meadows, bluffs and rocky promontories are breathtaking, but a few careless footsteps can rob future generations of the opportunity to enjoy them. Help our islands’ native wildflowers and meadowlands by staying on marked or well-worn trails. If you hear the crunch of lichens, or feel the soft “give” of a cushion of mosses beneath your feet, you are off-trail where your footprints will not only damage lichens and native wildflowers, but also attract other people to follow the same route. San Juan County declared itself a Leave No Trace County in 2014. That’s not just about trash and toilets. Footprints should be left on trails, not on our wild gardens.

Russel Barsh and Madrona Murphy are researchers at Kwiáht, a Lopez nonprofit conservation science cooperative that monitors long-term change in terrestrial as well as marine environments around the San Juan Islands (see www.kwiaht.org).

San Juan County Emergency Providers Wi sh e v e ryo n e a s af e I n d e p e n d e n c e Day! E n j oy t h e p u b li c f i re w o rk s d i sp l ay s ! We remind you that personal fireworks are against the law. www.sjcfiremarshal.com

Springtide 2015 / 16

The Farmers’ Market at the Village Green in Eastsound. Cali Bagby photo

here is an abundance of locally grown produce, island-made food and products. Browse fruits, berries, vegetables, eggs, condiments and sauces, cheeses, pasta and breads plus gorgeous flowers and healthy nursery plants. Listen to live music while perusing the work of jewelers, potters, fiber artists, photographers and other artists. Lopez The Lopez Island Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Lopez Village, next to the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts, from May 16 to Sept. 12. More than 40 vendors show and sell everything from produce to pickles, from prints to pottery – all of it produced by local farmers and artists. For more info, go to www.lopezfarmersmarket.com. Orcas The Orcas Island Farmers’ Market is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday from the first weekend in May to the last weekend of September on the Village Green in the heart of Eastsound. During October and through most of November, the market meets from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Odd Fellows Hall, on Haven Street just south of Main Street on the way to Madrona Point. All items sold in the market are grown or crafted by Orcas Island farmers and artisans. The market includes produce, much of it organic, crafts, art, jewelry, clothing, pottery, food and drink vendors, and some of Orcas Island’s service organizations. Everyone is welcome. Parking is where you find it. Public restrooms available on the park grounds. Leashed dogs are permitted. For more info, visit www.orcasislandfarmersmarket.org or on Facebook

ORC AS I SL A N D

Every Saturday from May thru Oct. • 10am - 3pm on the Village Green, Orcas Island Visit us on Facebook! Or, for more information, call (360) 317-8342 34

Springtide 2015 / 16

San Juan The San Juan Island Farmers' Market is your source on Saturdays for island produce, fine crafts and prepared foods. Stop by the market for fruits, flowers, herbs, goat cheese, eggs, tomatoes, jams and jellies, baked goods, sushi, sausages, sustainably harvested tuna, shellfish, grass-fed meats, and much more. New this season, they are featuring mushrooms. The San Juan Farmers’ Market is located at Brickworks in Friday Harbor. The San Juan Island Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., mid-April through the end of October. During the holiday season, it is open twice a month in November and December plus the first Saturday in January, February and March. For a full calendar and more info, visit www.sjifarmersmarket.com.

unsuspecting rabbit on the prairie above the beach is a common sight. False Bay is ideal for tide-pool tours that get even better when the tide is seriously low. The county park is a perfect place for a picnic, for beach combing and for flying a kite as well. English Camp and Mount Young offer a healthy mix of historical highlights and open space in which to stretch the legs, and the waterfront of Garrison and Westcott bays. At Roche Harbor Resort, at the island’s northwest end, you’ll find a park with playground equipment, a swimming pool (small fee for non-guests), tennis courts and an option of places to grab a bite to eat. Lakedale Resort offers small boat rentals, fishing and a swimming hole that non-guests can use for a modest fee. And, close by is Zip San Juan, where you can buckle up and “zip” through a forest canopy and over lush wetlands. In the Town of Friday Harbor is Sunken Park, ideal for a picnic and for shooting hoops, a bowling alley and arcade, at Paradise Lanes, and the county fairgrounds, which hosts a skatepark and a family park with a swing-set and playground equipment, too. Jackson’s Beach, on the outskirts of town, features a long stretch of waterfront, more driftwood than you can shake a weenie-roast stick at and a public launch. San Juan Island Park & Recreation District, more commonly known as Island Rec, offers a whole host of summer programs for children, teens and for adults as well (for more on Island Rec, visit www.islandrec.org)

ACTIVITIES FROM PG. 29

By Cali Bagby

he San Juan Islands are the perfect place to pitch a tent. Most campsites are totally accessible and familyfriendly. All you have to do is decide if you want a spot lakeside or near the beach. Take a look below to find a wealth of options. To make a reservation at an island county park, visit sanjuanco.com/CAMP/ parkreservations/. To make a reservation at a state park, visit parks.wa.gov/reservations/. You can also find out information about camping on outer islands at the above websites. Below is a list of main campgrounds in the San Juans. San Juan Island • San Juan County Park – Located on the west side, this popular scenic park looks out over the Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan De Fuca to Vancouver Island and beyond. Park amenities include water, picnic areas, toilets, beaches and a boat launch. It has 20 campsites, and reservations are recommended from MaySeptember (360-378-8420). Lopez Island • Odlin County Park – Odlin is situated on the waterfront, edged by a stretch of

beautiful sandy beach. Odlin boasts 30 campsites, toilets, water, a boat launch, a dock, a baseball field and a group picnic area, and is an ideal family campground. (360-378-8420) • Spencer Spit State Park – Located on 138 acres on the north end, Spencer Spit has 16 mooring bouys and 37 campsites, including group camps and a water trail site, Spencer Spit offers water, toilets, picnic areas, hiking trails and kayaks for rental (360-468-2251). Orcas Island • Moran State Park – Stationed on 5,252 Orcas Island acres, Moran State Park features five lakes, 151 campsites, 30 miles of hiking trails, 11 miles of bike trails, six miles of horseback riding trails, and a playground, as well as the scenic lookout atop Mt. Constitution. Kayaks, canoes and paddle boats are also available for rent, and both showers and restrooms are at hand (360376-2326). Shaw Island • Shaw Island County Park – Overlooking Indian Cove on the southern edge of the island, Shaw Island County Park offers 11 campsites near and along the longest stretch of sandy beach in the San Juans (360-378-8420). Springtide 2015 / 16

www.sanjuanjournal.com // www.islandssounder.com // www.islandsweekly.com

Lopez May

• 20 Musical Theater Production by Lopez School, 7:30 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 22 Lopez Artist Guild Art Opening, 5 p.m., Lopez Center, www. lopezcenter.org

June

• 11 Tap Show, 4 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 12 Tap Show, 7 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 13 Tap Show, 7 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 14 Tap Show, 2 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 26 LIFRC Literary Fundraiser, 6:30 p.m., Lopez Center, www. lopezcenter.org • 27 Live Light, Live Clean Energy Fair, 10 a.m., Lopez Center, www. lopezcenter.org • 28 Grisha Krivchenia Piano Concert, 4 p.m., Lopez Center, www. lopezcenter.org

July

• 3 Outdoor Concert, Abbey Road Live!, 7 p.m., Lopez Center, www. lopezcenter.org • 4 Used book sale, 9 a.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 4 Fourth of July barbecue, 11:30 a.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 10 LAG Members’ Art Show, Lopez Artist Guild Art Opening, 5 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 10-11 Island Stage Left, Shakespeare Under the Stars, “Cymbeline,” Lopez Island Vineyards, 8 p.m., www.islandstageleft.org • 19 High Tea Lopez Center fundraiser, 2 p.m., Lopez Center, www. lopezcenter.org • 23 Worship at the Pavilion, noon, Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 23 Revival Night, 6 p.m., Lopez 36

Springtide 2015 / 16

Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 24 Worship at the Pavilion, noon, Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 24 Revival Night, 6 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 25 Worship at the Pavilion, noon, Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 25 Revival Night, 6 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org

August

• 6 Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival on Lopez, 5:30 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 9 An Over-the-Top Runway Show!, Trashion-Fashion 2015, 4:30 p.m., Lopez Center, www. lopezcenter.org

September

• 4 Lopez Studio Tour Preview Gallery Opening Reception, 5 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 5 Annual Lopez Island Studio Tour, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., various studios, www.lopezstudiotour.org • 6 Annual Lopez Island Studio Tour, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., various studios, www.lopezstudiotour.org • 12 Lopez Center’s 12th Annual Home Tour, 9 a.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 13 Lopez Island Vineyards Harvest Festival, 9 a.m., Lopez Vineyards, http://www.visitsanjuans.com/events/lopez-island/ lopez-vineyard-harvest-festival • 17 April Verch Stepdance Workshop, 4 p.m., Lopez Center, www. lopezcenter.org • 17 April Verch Band, 7:30 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org • 26 Get Funky Dance Party!, 7:30 p.m., Lopez Center, www. lopezcenter.org • 27 Lopez Island Vineyards Harvest Festival, 9 a.m., Lopez Vineyards, http://www.visitsanjuans.com/events/lopez-island/ lopez-vineyard-harvest-festival

October

• 1-31 8th Annual Savor the San Juans - A Medley of Food, Farms

and Art, various locations, for details see www.visitsanjuans. com/savor • 24 World’s Best Potluck LCLT Annual Harvest Dinner, 5 p.m., Lopez Center, www.lopezcenter.org

Orcas May

• 21 National Theatre Live, “Man and Superman,” 7:30 p.m., on screen at Orcas Center, www. orcascenter.org • 23 Center Stage Open Mic with Gordon and Anita, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org • 29 Ann Randolph, “Loveland”, 8 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org • 30 “The Bolshoi Ballet”, Ivan the Terrible, 6:30 p.m., on screen Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org

June

• 4 Orcas Youth Orchestra, 7 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org • 6 Orcas Island Community Band, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www. orcascenter.org • 7 Crossroads Lecture: Lisa Bergman, 4 p.m., Orcas Center, www. orcascenter.org • 13 Love Letters Beyond the Veil, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www. orcascenter.org • 19-20 One World Music Festival, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www. orcascenter.org • 20 Summer Solstice Celebration/Parade, noon, Eastsound Village Green, www.visitsanjuans. com/events • 26 Garden Art Show at the Cabin, 4 to 7 p.m., Crow Valley Pottery, 2274 Orcas Road, www.crowvalleypottery.com • 27-28 Orcas Island Garden Tour, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at six unique gardens, http://www.orcasislandgardenclub.org/garden-tour.html

July

• 3 Deer Harbor Independence Day Fireworks Show, Deer Harbor Dock, 7 to 10:30 p.m., www. visitsanjuans.com/events • 3-4 Orcas Museum Historical Days Celebration, Eastsound Village Green, www.orcasmuseum.org • 4 Fire and Rescue Pancake Breakfast, 7 to 11 a.m. at Eastsound Fire Station, www. visitsanjuans.com/events • 4 Pie Booth and Silent/Live Auctions, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Orcas Island Historical Museum, www. orcasmuseum.org • 4 Independence Day Parade, Eastsound, noon, www.visitsanjuans.com/events • 4 Lions Club Salmon Barbecue, 1 to 7 p.m., American Legion Hall, www.orcasislandchamber.com • 4 Eastsound Fourth of July Fireworks Show, Waterfront Park, 9 to 10:30 p.m., www.visitsanjuans. com/events • 8 Island Stage Left Productions, Shakespeare Under the Stars: “Cymbeline,” 8 p.m., Doe Bay Resort, www.doebay.com • 17 10th Annual Potters Fest, 4 to 7 p.m., Crow Valley Pottery, 2274 Orcas Road, www.crowvalley.com • 25 “Movement Graffiti,” 6:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org

August

• 1 “Wild and Precious,” 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org • 1-3 31st Annual Orcas Fly-In and Antique Car Show, all day, Orcas Airport, www.portoforcas.com • 7-22 18th Annual Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, Orcas Center, features world-famous musicians (visit www.oicmf.org, for details) • 8 Annual Library Fair and Book Sale, 10 a.m., Orcas Island Library, www.orcaslibrary.org • 14-16 Artists Studio Tour, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., for locations visit www. orcasartistsstudiotour.com

September

• 1-3 Annual Wooden Boat Rendezvous, all day event, Deer Harbor, info@deerharborwoodenboats.org • 4-6 Martin Lund’s Orcas Island Jazz Festival, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org • 6 17th Annual Steve Braun Memorial Triathlon, 8:30 a.m., Moran State Park, www.friendsofmoran.org • 6 Orcas Center Annual Golf Classic, 9:30 a.m., Orcas Island Golf Course, www.orcascenter.org • 26 Whale of a Show: Orcas All-Kid Talent Show, 6:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org

October

• 1-31 8th Annual Savor the San Juans - A Medley of Food, Farms and Art, various locations, for details see www.visitsanjuans. com/savor • 3 BodyVox: “Reverie,” 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org • 9-12 2nd Annual Orcas Island Film Festival, Orcas Center, www. orcasfilmfest.com

November

• 7 TEDxOrcas Island, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Orcas Center, www. orcascenter.org • 14 Wild and Scenic Film Festival: “A Wild Life,” 7:30 p.m., on screen at Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org • 27-28 The Olga Symphony, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org • 28 Holiday Festival of Arts, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Orcas Senior Center, www.orcasseniors.org

December

• 4 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, 3:45 to 5 p.m., Eastsound Village Green • 5 Artisans Faire, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Odd Fellows Hall, www. oddshall.org • 5 Orcas Choral Society Holiday Concert, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org • 6 Artisans Faire, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Odd Fellows Hall, www. oddshall.org • 6 Orcas Choral Society Holiday Concert, 2 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org • 12 Orcas Island Community Band concert, 2 p.m., Orcas Center, www.orcascenter.org

San Juan May

• 21-23 and 28-30 “9 to 5: The Musical,” 7:30 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org • 24 Know Your Island Walk: Nichols Neighborhood and Sunshine Alley, 1 to 4 p.m., sanjuanislandtrails.org • 24 “9 to 5: The Musical,” 2 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org • 25 The Met: Live in HD: “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci,” 7 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org • 29-30 Celebrity Golf Classic and Salmon Barbecue, San Juan Golf and Country Club, call Becki Day at 298-0458 • 31 The Birds of American Camp, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., American Camp Visitors Center, www.visitsanjuans.com/events • TBA Farmers’ Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Sat.), Brickworks Plaza, www. sjifarmersmarket.com • For 2015 summer events sponsored by San Juan Island National Historical Park, visit www.nps.gov/sajh/

June

• 6-7 24th Annual San Juan Island Artists Studio Tour, 15 studios, 40 artists, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., www. sanjuanislandartists.com • 7 Barbershop Bonanza, 2 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org • 13 San Juan Island Garden Tour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., details at sjigardenclub.weebly.com/sjigarden-tour.html • 14 NTL’s “Man and Superman,” 2 p.m., on screen at San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org • 14 Jazz at the Labs Benefit Dinner and Concert, 6 p.m., UW Friday Harbor Laboratories, www. depts.washington.edu/fhl • 20 Friday Harbor Art Market, 3 to 7 p.m., (Fridays through Aug. 29), Brickworks Plaza, www.fridayharbornow.com/artmarket.htm • 20 Dance Happy, 7 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www. sjctheatre.org

• 20 Annual Orca Sing Concert, Lime Kiln State Park, www.whalemuseum.org • 20-21 Three Lakes Triathlon, 8 a.m., Lakedale Resort, www. facebook.com/sjimarathon • 22 King John, Stratford Festival, 7 p.m., on screen at San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org • 26-27 Friday Harbor Chamber Music Festival, 7:30 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www. sjctheatre.org • 27 Know Your Island Walk: Lime Kiln State Park Visitor Center, 1-4 p.m., sanjuanislandtrails.org

July

• Saturdays in July and August, Family Art Days, San Juan Islands Museum of Art, 540 Spring Street, www.sjima.org • 3 Summer Concert Series: Music in the Park, (Fridays at 5 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. thru Sept. 6), Port of Friday Harbor, www. visitsanjuans.com • 4 Old-Fashioned July 4th and Fireworks (games and events), Roche Harbor Resort, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., www.rocheharbor.com • 4 Fourth of July Parade, 10:30 a.m., Friday Harbor, Fireworks Show (dusk), Port of Friday Harbor, www.sanjuanisland.org • 4 Fourth of July Pig War Picnic by Kiwanis Club, 11:15 a.m., San Juan Historical Museum, sjmuseum.org • 4 Rock the Dock dance, 6 p.m., Port of Friday Harbor, www.visitsanjuans.com • 5 Abbey Road LIVE!, Beatles Tribute Band, 7:30 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www. sjctheatre.org • 9 Music on the Lawn, 6:30 p.m. San Juan Historical Museum, (Wednesdays, thru Aug. 6), www. islandrec.org • 11-12 Summer Arts Fair, 10 a.m., Friday Harbor (Court Street), www. sanjuanisland.org • 13 “Antony and Cleopatra,” Stratford HD, 7 p.m., on screen at San Juan Community Theatre, www. sjctheatre.org • 16 - Aug. 2 Island Stage Left: ”Cymbeline,” 8 p.m., Thurs. - Sun., Roche Harbor Resort, www.islandstageleft.org • 18 Blues Guitarist Albert Cum-

mings, 7:30 p.m.,San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org • 18-19 14th Annual Lavender Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pelindaba Lavender Farm, www.pelindabalavender.com • 20 National Theatre Live: “Everyman,” 7 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org • 24 Bolshoi Ballet: “Ivan the Terrible,” 7 p.m., on screen at San Juan Community Theatre, www. sjctheatre.org • 25 Know Your Island Walk, 1 to 4 p.m., meet at intersection of Roche Harbor and West Valley roads, www.sanjuanislandtrails.org • 25-26 National Parks Pig War Reenactment/Encampment, SJI National Historical Park English Camp, www.nps.gov/sajh • 27-31 Theatre Arts for Kids, Summer Workshop for Teens, 10 a.m. to noon, San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org

August

• 1 Shaw Island Classic, SJI Yacht Club, Port of FH, www.sjiyc.com • 1 Annual Fly-In and Open House, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday Harbor Airport, www.portfridayharbor.org • 2 Sheep to Shawl weaving demonstration and crafts, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., English Camp, www.nps. gov/sajh • 3-21 Musical Theatre Camp, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, 7:30 p.m., www. sjctheatre.org • 7-23 Island Stage Left, Shakespeare Under the Stars: “Cymbeline,” 8 p.m., Fri. – Sun., Wold Road, www.islandstageleft.org • 12-15 San Juan County Fair, Fairgrounds in FH, www.sjcfair.org • 15 Annual 8.8K Loop Run/Walk, Fairgrounds, www.islandrec.org • 22 Know Your Island Walk: Wescott Bay Trail, 1 to 4 p.m., English Camp, www.sanjuanislandtrails.org • 22 The Paperboys, 7:30 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org • 28 Fingerstyle master Martin Taylor, 7:30 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org at English Camp. SEE EVENTS PG. 40 Springtide 2015 / 16

By Scott Rasmussen

Contributed photos

Springtide 2015 / 16

It juts out of the landscape like a battering ram on the south side of city. At the summit, some 1,300 feet or so, you can feast your eyes on panoramic views of the famed farmlands of Skagit Valley and on Whidbey Island further south, and over to the archipelago of islands to the west, the San Juan Islands. But you needn't scale Mount Erie for a bird's eye view of Anacortes. Just a stone's throw from downtown rests Cap Sante. Situated at the north end of the city, this bulky mound of rock banks southward to help create a protected harbor that's home to a bustling, publicly owned marina and one of the largest commercial fishing fleets in Washington state. There's a pullout at the very tip of the Cap, outfitted with a picnic area and highly prized parking spaces, where you can kick back, linger over the view and take in a lasting impression of the sights and sounds of Anacortes, its waterfront and the unique landscape that surrounds it. Anacortes has long-been known as the Gateway to the San Juan Islands. It is home to the international ferry terminus that serves the San Juans and Canada's Vancouver Island, home to the city of Victoria, provincial capital of British Columbia. It is situated on island of its own, Fidalgo Island, named after Salavdor Fidalgo, a Spanish explorer and map-maker who cruised the area as part of an expedition in the late 18th Century. But Anacortes is more than simply a pass-through or jump-off point for adventure in the Salish Sea. It is a bustling mini-metropolis that sports a vibrant and enduring cultural, commercial and scenic charisma all its own. It boasts 20 miles of saltwater shoreline, five freshwater lakes, 3,000 acres of parks and forestland, and five marinas and busy

boatyards on all sides. Within the city's 14-square-mile border, two square miles of which are water, 50 percent is either parkland or forest. Anacortes is also the ancestral home of the Swinomish and Samish peoples. The Samish Indian Nation, headquartered on the city's main drag, Commercial Avenue, is a leader in regional salmon restoration projects and operates an art gallery in Old Town featuring works of Pacific Northwest Native American artists. Today, the city is home to about 16,500 residents, roughly equivalent to the entire population of San Juan County. Home of two oil refineries, Anacortes is a linchpin in regional economics as well. Tesoro and Shell together employ about 800 workers that collectively refine some 275,000 barrels of crude oil a day, much of it arriving on tug-escorted tankers from the North Slope of Alaska. Island Hospital, a general medical and surgical healthcare facility recently was ranked among the nation's 200 best "small hospitals," and employs some 500plus medical professionals. Here's a couple of historical facts that might prove of interest. Anacortes, founded in 1891, is named after its firstever postmaster, Anna Curtis Bowman, wife of one of the first settlers to stake a claim on Fidalgo Island and one of the area's early entrepreneurs. The city's founding fathers at one time had hopes that Anacortes would be selected as the western terminus of the transcontinental railroad. When those hopes were dashed, they turned to fishing and lumber production instead, boatbuilding would come later. Whether it is art galleries, antique shops, museums, restaurants or music that floats your boat, it is alive and well in Anacortes. SEE ANACORTES PG. 40

DISTINCTIVE AND CUSTOM DESIGN JEWELRY

FERRY BOAT CHARMS IN SILVER OR GOLD

7th & Commercial • Anacortes • 293-6469 Toll-Free 1-888-293-6469 Mon - Sat 9:30 to 5:30

Local Food, Local Beer Made Here. Complete Menu and Events Calendar online at www.anacortesrockfish.com

320 Commercial • Anacortes 360-588-1720 • Innovative Food • Craft Cocktails • 24 Draft Handles • Live Music and DJ’s • Voted Best Place to Meet People & Best Place to Dance in Skagit County

www.anacortesh2o.com 314 Commercial • Anacortes 360-755-3956

Voted Best Retirement Community in Anacortes

FREE Ferry Pickup Sea-Tac Airport

Trek • Specialized • Giant

Drop-off & Pick-up

www.SkagitCycleCenter.com

Sales, Service and Rentals 1620 Commercial, Anacortes: 360-588-8776 1704 S.Burlington Blvd., Burlington: 360-757-7910 New Location: 731 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor

Low Rates Open 7 days a week Daily / Weekly / Monthly Rates Available Insurance Replacements 360-293-8686 TOLL FREE 877-451-6985 usaveauto@comcast.net 910-25th St., Anacortes, WA

WHAT IS “HOME?” HOME IS WHERE YOUR FRIENDS ARE!

CSC

CAP SANTE COURT Retirement Community

www.capsantecourt.com Warm & inviting laughter • Holiday Celebrations • Intriguing Conversation • Home-cooked meals • Housekeeping Activities • Entertainment & more! • All on one level • Staffed 24 hours a day • Studio, one & two bedroom.

1111 32nd St., Anacortes (360) 293-8088 Springtide 2015 / 16

Cherry Blossoms and a rustic barn, a bucolic scene on Lopez Island. Anne Willis photo

ANACORTES FROM PG. 38 Below are a few signature Anacortes events: • Anacortes Waterfront Festival: Combine a street fair with a boat show, and a car show, and a swap meet, and boat building demonstrations, and then add a whole lot of music and an assortment of food, and what do you get? Find out June 6 and 7. • Shipwreck Day: an annual one-day flea market/citywide garage sale held the third Saturday in July. Each year the city blocks off several downtown streets to accommodate this campy, largescale community favorite. • What the Heck Fest: a week-long event, Heck Fest coincides with Shipwreck Day and takes place at various locations throughout the city. At the heart of the festival is a community event, which

EVENTS FROM PG. 37 • 30 Concours d’Elegance, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., San Juan Island Vineyards, www.sanjuanconcours.org. • Labor Day Weekend Music Festival, 11 a.m., Browne’s Lumber Yard, Friday Harbor, www.visitsanjuans. com

September

• 14 Community Salmon BBQ, 5:40 p.m., Lions Club, SJ Fairgrounds. • 19 April Verch Band, 7:30 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, 40

Springtide 2015 / 16

www.sjctheatre.org • 26 San Juan Vineyards Harvest Festival, 9 a.m., San Juan Vineyards, www.visitsanjuans. comevents/san-juan-island/ harvest-festival • 26 Know Your Island Walk: Mitchell Hill, 1 to 4 p.m., English Camp, www.sanjuanislandtrails.org • 26 Relay for Life Fundraiser, 3 p.m., Fairgrounds, main.acsevents.org

October

• 1-31 8th Annual Savor the San Juans - A Medley of Food, Farms and Art, various locations, for

features a dinner show and a concert, while performers pop up at different venues to offer up their best in music, movies, literature and art. • Anacortes Arts Festival: The main course of this annual weekend event is lots of live music and art in every sort of art form imaginable. It kicks off July 31 with a half-marathon, and a 10K and 5K run, known collectively as Art Dash, and culminates the weekend of Aug. 7-9. • Oyster Run: Thirty-four years old and still kicking, The Oyster Run is, simply put, the largest motorcycle rally in the Pacific Northwest, and "hogs" are everywhere. Organizers estimate as many as 15,000 bikes or more tour the area as part of the most recent run. The 2015 Oyster Run is September 27. For more information, visit Anacortes Chamber of Commerce at www. anacortes.org, or call (360) 293-7911. details see www.visitsanjuans. com/savor • 3 Oktoberfest, Fairgrounds, 5 p.m., www.sanjuanisland.org • 3-4 Artstock: 10th Annual Fall Festival of Art, galleries and studio tours, www.visitsanjuans.com • 24 Know Your Island Walk: Lime Kiln Point State Park, 1 to 4 p.m., www.sanjuanislandtrails.org

November

• Bite of the San Juan Islands, 1 to 4 p.m., Brickworks, www. visitsanjuans.com • 6-8 Friday Harbor Film Festival, Community Theatre and Grange

Hall, www.fhff.org

December

• 3 Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration, 5 to 8 p.m. at San Juan Historical Museum, www. sjmuseum.org • 4 Tree Lighting & Caroling, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Memorial Park, Friday Harbor, www.visitsanjuans.com • 5 Holiday Festival Theatre Fundraiser, 5 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre, www.sjctheatre.org • 19 Lighted Boat Parade and Santa, 6:30 p.m., Spring Street, www.portfridayharbor.org

Welcome to Deer Harbor The Center for Outdoor Activities

Deer Harbor Charters

1-800-544-5758 or DeerHarborCharters.com

West Sound Marina, inc. The Service Center of the San Juans

“We Fix Boats”

• Haulouts to 30 ton, 64 ft. LOA, 18’ beam at any tide. Factory certified mechanics: • Engine service and sales. • Volvo • Mercruiser • Yanmar • Evinrude E-TEC • Complete Chandlery, most everything you need for boat and crew. • Moorage: 180 year-round slips – Guest dock. • Fuel: • Gas • Diesel • Propane • Dry storage area.

P.O. Box 119 • Orcas, Washington 98280 • (360) 376-2314 • Fax (360) 376-4634

28 Years Experience Professional & Personalized Service

Smugglers on Orcas Island…Nice Pool, Waterfront Cottages Comfy 2 bdrm Homes • Full Baths • Real Kitchens • Dish TV • WiFi Sunny Decks • BBQ • Nightly Beach Fire• Play Areas • Laundry

SMUGGLERS VILLA RESORT Quietly Serving Orcas Island Since 1972

360-376-2297 • 800-488-2097 • www.smugglersvilla.com

Center for health & wellness for West Skagit & the San Juan Islands! Island Hospital is one of the most innovative and recognized small hospitals in the U.S. Island offers a Level III Emergency Department, state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging and a full range of high-quality services from the Birth Center to Home Healthcare.

• Aesthetics Center

• Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy

FREE CAB RIDES FOR ISLAND PATIENTS!

(360) 588-2081 • Birth Center

(360) 299-1331

(360) 299-1328

• Psychiatry & Behavioral Health

Free round-trip transport is available from the Anacortes Ferry Terminal for San Juan County residents who are using Island Hospital or IH clinics. For info visit islandhospital.org; for reservations call:

• Cancer Care Center

(360) 299-4200 • Diagnostic Services, including Mammography, DEXA

(360) 708-6358

(360) 299-1315

(360) 299-4297 • Sleep Wellness Center

(360) 299-8676 • Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine

(360) 899-4600

Main Switchboard (855) 440-4200

• Home Health Services

(360) 299-1302

Call main toll-free and ask for connection to any department

• Island Surgeons

(360) 293-5142 • Outpatient & Inpatient Surgery Center

(360) 299-1300

OUR PROMISE

Your best healthcare experience begins at Island Hospital. We always place your emotional and medical needs first and foremost.

1211 24th Street / Anacortes • islandhospital.org

Lopez Island Medical Clinic

High-Quality, Comprehensive Healthcare

(360) 468-2245

Located in Lopez Island Village

Mon – Fri • 8:30am – 5pm

Family Care Clinic of Island Hospital Supported by Catherine Washburn Medical Assn

Working Together with Island Hospital for Quality Medical Care on Orcas Island

(360) 376-2561

7 Deye Lane, Eastsound Mon - Fri • 8:30am – 5pm

Doctor on call 24/7 • www.orcasmedicalcenter.com