— from Sandy Strehlou —

Kendo Yasuda and his sister, Haru, as young children in Roche Harbor. Yasuda family collection

Kendo Yasuda and his sister, Haru, as young children in Roche Harbor. Yasuda family collection

More great local history events this month. The annual History Lives Here! month-long celebration of local history continues through the end of May with events that you won’t want to miss.

Pollinators in Historic Driggs Park. Fun and learning about heritage fruit trees and pollinators for kids. Games, art, bugs and treats! Free to the public and enthusiasts of all ages. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Land Bank office on Argyle Avenue, Friday Harbor. 360- 378-4402 tanjaw@sjclandbank.org.

Friday Harbor Labs Open House & Self- Guided Tour. Student & faculty demonstrations, historic buildings, a first-hand peek at a working laboratory. Saturday, May 14, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday Harbor.

Orcas Island Pioneer Museum’s 60th Anniversary Open House in the Museum and in the Park. Saturday, May 14, 11a.m., Eastsound, Orcas Island.

Saturday Farmer’s Market @ Historic Brickworks. Every Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Sunshine Alley, Friday Harbor.

Historic Picket House is Open to the Public. A rare opportunity to tour the interior of the Picket House. Saturday May 15, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., and Sunday, May 16, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at American Camp, San Juan Island.

Smuggler’s Cruise. Discover the history of smuggling in the San Juans on a cruise sponsored by the Orcas Museum and Eclipse Charters. $99+tax includes lunch, cruise and history talk. Sunday, May 15, 12:30 – 5:30 p.m. Space is limited.

Annie Howell-Adams: Heritage Murals. Local artist and muralist will discuss Heritage Murals: how she researches and constructs a story and then designs and creates large scale panels. May 18, 7 p.m., San Juan Island Library.

Yellow Island Wooden Board Race. Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m., Deer Harbor, Orcas Island.

San Juan Historical Museum 50th Anniversary Open House. An admission-free day of exhibits, music, stories, and the opportunity to browse vintage local newspapers, and Pioneer Picnic scrapbooks. Storytellers, guided tours, and cake! Saturday, May 21, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 405 Price Street, Friday Harbor.

Sunken Park Mural Celebration and Poetry Contest. Saturday, May 22, 2 p.m.

History Talk: Uncovering the Stories of the Japanese and Chinese of early San Juan Island. A history talk based on recent research by Lynn Weber/Roochvarg of the Writing Our History Project. Sunday, May 22, 7 p.m., San Juan Island Library, Friday Harbor. 360.622.2037.

Partners in Preservation Awards and Anniversaries Celebration. The Town of Friday Harbor honors local islanders who have made valuable contributions to the preservation of Friday Harbor and San Juan Island’s historic sense of place. Wednesday, May 25, 5 – 7 p.m., Brickworks, Sunshine Alley, Friday Harbor. 360.622.2037.

History Talk: Proving Up, Homesteading on San Juan Island. Local historian Boyd Pratt discusses how the islands went from common use by Salish groups to private land ownership. Wednesday, May 25,7 p.m., San Juan Island Library.

Saturday Farmer’s Market @ Historic Brickworks. Every Saturday, 10am-1pm, Sunshine Alley, Friday Harbor.

History Talk: Marshall Memories, Stories with Orcas Elders. Saturday, May 28th, 2-4 p.m., Orcas Island Artworks, Olga, Orcas Island. 360-376-3371

American Legion Museum Open House. The American Legion Hacket- Larson Post 163 museum holds a collection of memorabilia from past wars and the Americans who served. Sunday, May 29, 10 a.m.  – 2 p.m., American Legion Hall, Second Street, Friday Harbor.

The New Victorian Home – Interior Tour.  Discover an authentic Victorian interior, created by a connoisseur of Victorian antiques. Sunday, May 29, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., 1467 Tarte Rd., Roche Harbor, San Juan Island.

Traditional Memorial Day Parade. Since the end of World War I, American Legion Hacket-Larson Post 163 has commemorated the service men and women who have served the nation in the various branches of the military. The Legion’s annual Memorial Day Parade and ceremony is both an authentic small town parade and a worthy tribute to the sacrifices made by Americans both past and present. Monday, May 30, 10 a.m., Memorial Park waterfront, Friday Harbor.

For event information and a complete calendar, go to www.visitsanjuans.com/history-lives-here.

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