Posted November 9, 2020 at 6:00 am by Hayley Day
By San Juan County
Four new positive COVID-19 test results have been reported for San Juan County, as of Nov. 9.
Three of these cases are on San Juan Island, and one is on Lopez.
Though investigations are ongoing, early results suggest that these cases are not related. Continue Reading
Posted November 9, 2020 at 5:46 am by Tim Dustrude
Gail and Randy share this location update with you…
We are now at 300 Spring Street! (formerly Christy’s Island Salon) We are right next to Mystical Mermaid. We are also closer to the public parking lot so never have to worry about finding a parking space!
We are all moved in and can’t wait for you to come in and see what a beautiful new space this is for us. It is bright, and light and more space and 3 dressing rooms!
Not only are we celebrating our new space, but we are celebrating our 11 year Anniversary in business! Since we cannot celebrate in the traditional way with an open house, we are celebrating all month long with giveaways and raffles!
Looking forward to seeing you soon! We are open every day at 11:00 AM.
Posted November 9, 2020 at 5:41 am by Tim Dustrude
Mike Sato and Amy Nelson of Salish Current – Contributed photo
(Bellingham WA) Salish Current (salish-current.org), a local nonprofit, independent news platform dedicated to reporting news for the civic good in Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties, today announced its participation in the national NewsMatch giving campaign.
“Donations made to Salish Current in November and December will be doubled by NewsMatch and applied directly to paying freelancers writing news,” said volunteer publisher Amy Nelson. “We’ve received wonderful support since our launch from the Whatcom Community Foundation and generous local donors, and this is an excellent opportunity to widen community support for journalism in our region.”
The young startup publication which launched in February 2020 has published over three dozen original news stories reported by professional news freelancers, emailed weekly newsletters (https://salish-current.org/newsletters/) of curated local news items to subscribers, and hosted community members to share their thoughts in essays, opinion pieces and analyses.
“Our goal is to report local news in a way that provides nonpartisan, factual information our communities can use to discuss issues,” Nelson said. “Controversies abound, but Salish Current hopes to add to the light, not the heat, of discussion and decisions.” Continue Reading
Posted November 9, 2020 at 5:30 am by Hayley Day
Contributed Photo
By Kevin Porter, Community Thanksgiving Dinner
It is time for the 22nd San Juan Island Community Thanksgiving Dinner, on Thursday, Nov. 26. One would think that after 21 years of having a community dinner there would be no more surprises.
At least until 2020 and COVID-19.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to spend Thanksgiving Day together but we are creating a fantastic meal for you to take home and spend time with your family or close friends.
Be assured when you come to pick up your dinner at the Mullis Center between noon and 3:30 p.m. you will be greeted by a hearty “Happy Thanksgiving.”
This year’s meal will include turkey (of course), mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls and a delicious Waldorf salad. We will have the meal ready for you in multiples of twos to accommodate any size of family. Continue Reading
Posted November 8, 2020 at 5:30 am by Hayley Day
Halley Byrne volunteers at the shelter. Contributed Photo/APSFH
By APSFH
The Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor is happy to announce Halley Byrne as November’s Volunteer of the Month.
Halley can always be counted on for her positive attitude and cheery disposition. Currently, Halley helps the Medical Team in the surgical suite, where she assists in the recovery of surgical patients. Continue Reading
Posted November 8, 2020 at 5:00 am by Hayley Day
By Winnie Brumsickle, Coordinator, Friday Harbor Severe Weather Shelter
Together with United Way of San Juan County and other supporters, “Out of the Cold” Friday Harbor Severe Weather Shelter will continue for another season.
The shelter will provide overnight shelter to vulnerable people in Friday Harbor during periods of extremely cold weather, from about Nov. 18-March 8, 2021.
Friday Harbor Severe Weather Shelter operates a temporary shelter for families and individuals at Islands Community Church, our primary supporting facility. Continue Reading
Posted November 8, 2020 at 4:30 am by Hayley Day
Members of San Juan County Public Hospital District 1 have each signed this letter regarding the potential sale of the Hospice of the Northwest. One copy is being sent to United General District 304 and the other to Skagit Regional Health.
Dear Commissioners,
We write to you as concerned citizens of San Juan County and as commissioners of San Juan County Public Hospital District 1. We recently learned that you are considering selling Hospice of the Northwest to Bristol Hospice, a for-profit corporation. Our understanding is that for-profit hospice companies cannot devote as much funding to patient care as non-profit hospice companies. Our community appreciates the high-quality services that Hospice of the Northwest provides, and we ask you to reject any offer to sell that operation.
We’d like to bring to your attention the results of a recent study commissioned by National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice innovation (the nonprofit voice for advanced illness, hospice and palliative care) and conducted by Milliman, a global actuarial and consulting firm. The objective of this study was: Understanding the differences and similarities in financial performance and quality of care between nonprofit and for-profit hospices serving Medicare beneficiaries. Here are 5 of their findings: Continue Reading
Posted November 7, 2020 at 10:51 am by Hayley Day
Contributed Photo/ Claudio Schwarz
Beth Helstien is having a sale until 4 p.m., today, Saturday, Nov. 7 at 25 Three Corner Lake Road on San Juan Island.
By Beth Helstien, San Juan Island
This garage/estate sale includes 40 years of accumulation.
Fishing: rods, reels, tackle boxes for freshwater and saltwater. Think of the salmon and trout and halibut and bass you can catch!
Tools: automotive, construction, electrical, plumbing. He could build or fix just about anything. Craftsman folding workbench.
Other items: boating stuff, duvet cover, ottomans, leaf blower, bird feeders, rakes and shovels, girl’s bike, and canoe.
Come look!
Posted November 7, 2020 at 5:30 am by Peggy Sue McRae
With Apologies to Norman Rockwell – Graphic Peggy Sue McRae
Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae.
How are we doing? Eight months into this pandemic and we are all tired of it; tired of staying home, tired of wearing masks, tired of washing our hands all the time. It is easy to get lulled into feeling pretty safe here on our pretty safe little island.
I’m sorry to say but this is not the time to let our guard down where coronavirus is concerned. We have stayed pretty safe here because we have been following the rules; wearing our masks, maintaining social distance, and washing our hands. Now is not the time to let up on these simple life-saving practices. Continue Reading
Posted November 7, 2020 at 5:00 am by Hayley Day
By Spring Street International School
We are hosting an open house on Nov. 12 from 6-7:30 pm.
This is an opportunity to hear from our teachers, director of admissions and head of school to better understand Spring Street’s program, admissions process and financial aid.
The schedule will be as follows: Continue Reading
Posted November 7, 2020 at 4:00 am by Hayley Day
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cardiothoracic Surgery team during procedure. Contributed Photo/PeaceHealth
By PeaceHealth
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center located in Bellingham, Washington, has earned a distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for its patient care and outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery.
The three-star rating, which denotes the highest category of quality, places PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center among the elite for cardiothoracic surgery in the U.S. and Canada.
The news comes on the heels of the program’s recognition as a top-performing cardiac program by The Foundation for Health Care Quality and Cardiac Care Outcomes Assessment Program in July.
PeaceHealth received COAP awards for its Cardiothoracic Surgery Outcomes and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Program. Continue Reading
Posted November 6, 2020 at 5:45 am by Tim Dustrude
By Louise Dustrude
The threat to Hospice of the Northwest has been covered extensively in the press, most recently in the Journal. Briefly, this national-award-winning hospice organization is under threat of being sold to a for-profit investment firm, and its scope of operations reduced substantially.
At the same time, the risks of close human contact due to Covid-19 have led to some cutbacks in the personal services provided by the all-volunteer Hospice of San Juan.
This group, headed up by physician Mariluz Villa, has since 1984 offered respite care, companionship, transportation, help with chores, and a variety of other kinds of help to the dying and their family caregivers.
While it cannot offer medications and other professional help which the Medicare-affiliated Hospice of the Northwest provides, its personal caring and help have for 36 years been seen as a valued benefit by those it serves. Continue Reading
Posted November 6, 2020 at 5:30 am by Hayley Day
“FREEZER BURNED: Tales of Interior Alaska” is a regular column on the San Juan Update.
By Steve Ulvi, San Juan Island
Ducking through the plank door, coffee thermos dangling in hand, I paused to take in the sky while stretching my sore back and shoulders.
Breathing deeply, I was invigorated by the brisk 55 degrees temperature drop from the cloying warmth of the cabin.
Pulling on dried cotton gloves, I grabbed my slime gear from a wooden peg and hefted my sheathed rifle. (I learned the hard way that a firearm had to be religiously degreased with warm diesel oil, especially the bolt, to prevent the firing pin from freezing up. Taking a cold rifle into a warm space leads to “sweating” and rust). Best de-oiled and left just outside the door in winter. Continue Reading
Posted November 6, 2020 at 4:30 am by Hayley Day
By San Juan Island Library
Love your library?
Join the San Juan Island Library Board of Trustees.
The board is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy on its five-member library board. This non-paid term of office spans from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2025, with eligibility for reappointment to another full five-year term.
Recommendations will be submitted by the current San Juan Island Library Board of Trustees, and the appointment made by the San Juan County Council. Continue Reading
Posted November 5, 2020 at 5:30 am by Hayley Day
Contributed Photo
By Debbie Martinez
Contributed Photo
My Rose Cottage Shop is a small but quaint shop in Friday Harbor. We carry a fun variety of precut fabrics, basic fabrics on the bolt, supplies, cross stitch kits, quilting kits and a bit more.
We are located at 682 Misty Isle Dr. and our hours are 10 a.m.-1 p.m.,
Contributed Photo
Saturdays and by appointment at any time. Just give me a call at 360-298-0001 and we can set a time for you to visit.
We opened our shop so the quilters on the island have a place to go to get some basics and won’t have to mail off or leave the island. Plus if you want some fun new fabrics we have it.
Due to COVID-19, our appointment times have made some people more comfortable to shop and we enjoy helping them. Our islands have some amazing quilters and we want a place they can come to pick up something, visit and get out for a bit.
Posted November 5, 2020 at 5:00 am by Hayley Day
Merri Ann Simonson – Contributed photo
By Merri Ann Simonson, Managing Broker, Coldwell Banker San Juan Islands Inc
While showing property, I am often asked, if the home could be renovated or increased in size as the lot is perfect but the home is too small or too dated for the prospective buyer.
As I have said numerous times, it is still more cost-effective to buy existing and remodel than it is to build new construction. With new homes, the cost is $400-$500 per square foot, and it is 20 months before you can walk over the threshold.
If you are buying a home that you intend to remodel, your feasibility study should include some of these items. These tests and research should be done prior to closing so you know that your intended remodel can actually be approved. Continue Reading