San Juan Safaris has been having terrific luck with J-Pod sightings lately. Yesterday they counted about 20 individual whales, including a new calf and legendary Ruffles, one of the largest of our San Juan Island resident Orca males. There’s really no sight quite like seeing Ruffles’ six foot tall dorsal fin surfacing and submerging. Jeanette, the San Juan Safaris naturalist, explained today that Orcas are voluntary breathers, so they exhibit unihemispheric sleep. This sleep pattern allows half the brain to sleep while the other half stays awake. Fascinating stuff from the folks at San Juan Safaris, who have a trip going out of Friday Harbor today at 12:30.

Weavers from throughout San Juan Island and Washington State will gather for the weekend to demonstrate how European and American Indian techniques melded to create woven objects and clothing unique to the Pacific Northwest. Cowlitz Nation weaver Judy Bridges and Fort Nisqually interpreter and storyteller Karen Haas will join San Juan Islanders Roger Ellison and Anita Barreca, plus spinners and weavers who will show how it was done with all-natural fibers, including wild reeds.

* Location: San Juan Island National Historical Park, English Camp, San Juan Island
* Contact: Mike Vouri
* Phone: (360) 378-2902

San Juan Island naturalist Barry Boyce, astronomy enthusiast Terry Ogle and friends return in 2009 with their exciting star watch program, beginning with a brief introduction to astronomy and ending with Barry and Terry showing how to navigate the night sky via telescope on the redoubt. Dress warmly!

* Location: San Juan Island National Historical Park, American Camp, San Juan Island
* Contact: Mike Vouri
* Phone: (360) 378-2902

San Juan Island naturalist Barry Boyce, astronomy enthusiast Terry Ogle and friends return in 2009 with their exciting star watch program, beginning with a brief introduction to astronomy and ending with Barry and Terry showing how to navigate the night sky via telescope on the redoubt. Dress warmly!

The San Juan County Fairgrounds is a community gathering place for 4H, events, festivals, recreational activities, agricultural shows, competitions and the annual San Juan County Fair.

* Location: San Juan County Fairgrounds, San Juan Island

ark historian and author Mike Vouri presents another view of the Pig War crisis of 1859 using images and information from the park’s and the San Juan Historical Museum’s photo archives.
* Location: San Juan Island Library, San Juan Island
* Contact: Mike Vouri
* Phone: (360) 378-2902

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