San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce Featured Member of the Month: Sandstrom Law, PLLC

Thomas Sandstrom – Tim Dustrude photo

Thomas Sandstrom has been practicing law in Friday Harbor since 2009 when he joined the Law Office of Christon Skinner. During his tenure with Chris, Thomas and now Honorable Kathryn C. Loring managed the Friday Harbor clientele until 2016 when Chris decided it was time to focus on his Oak Harbor practice.

Thomas and Kathryn purchased Chris’ Friday Harbor practice and immediately joined forces with Peter Goddu and Margaret Langlie, who had moved to the island having purchased retired Superior Court Judge Donald Eaton’s practice when he was appointed to the Superior Court. The newly formed practice was Goddu Langlie Loring Sandstrom, PLLC.

Kathryn C. Loring was appointed to the Superior Court in January of 2018 by Governor Inslee, after which the firm changed to Goddu Langlie Sandstrom, PLLC. At Peter and Margaret’s retirement effective January 2019, Thomas retained the practice and has changed the name to Sandstrom Law, PLLC. Read More »

If you are an academically motivated high school junior or senior, Running Start may be of interest to you and your family!

The Running Start program at Skagit Valley College/San Juan Center offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college level courses to earn dual credit toward both your high school diploma and college degree—without paying tuition!

The San Juan Center of Skagit Valley College will host two separate Running Start information nights for interested students and parents on Tuesday, April 2, from 6-6:30pm & Wednesday, May 1 from 6-6:30pm. Both information nights will be held at the San Juan Center of SVC (located near the Friday Harbor Airport terminal).

Learn how the Running Start program works; what classes are available; registration and intake process; and how the program may or may not be a fit you and your family. SVC staff will be available after the session to discuss individual questions.

Cost is free and refreshments will be provided.

Please RSVP by phone 360-378-3220 or email randy.martin@skagit.edu.

If you are looking for a fun and screen-free way to occupy some of your 3-6 year old’s time this coming spring break, look no further than Mindful Minis!

This exciting new program encourages physical and emotional awareness through activities like animal poses, belly breathing, and acting out the weather. Kids will ‘get their energy out’ and leave each day with a sense of calm.

It will run from 12-1pm at the elementary school gym April 8-11, and costs $13 before April 1^st, $18 thereafter.

For more information call 378-4953, visit www.islandrec.org, or the Island Rec office on Guard Street  

San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1 will be having its Regular Board Meeting on Wednesday March 27th at the Frank Wilson Memorial EMS Building.

It will begin at 1:00 p.m.

You might want to be aware of some road maintenance coming up. Here’s more from WSDOT:

EXPECT DELAYS: Deception Pass rockslide cleanup next week

If you’ve driven across Deception Pass bridge recently, you’ve likely seen the remnants from a small rockslide from a few weeks ago on the side of SR 20.

On Wednesday, March 27 and Thursday, March 28, our maintenance crews will clean up those rocks and repair a log guardrail.

In order to do this work safely, crews will need to close a direction of SR 20 during the morning commute with flaggers alternating traffic through the one open lane. Since there is no detour around this work, commuters should prepare for long delays on or off Whidbey Island.

Consider getting on the road before sunrise or after the peak travel times to avoid the height of the congestion, and keep posted on traffic conditions on the @wsdot_north Twitter account.

Double lane closures continue on I-5 through Skagit

Crews working on the I-5 paving and concrete rehab project will resume their double lane reductions in the northbound direction next week.

They will also need to close all the off-ramps between Starbird Road and the Stillaguamish River Bridge overnight, Monday through Wednesday, for pavement repair work. Don’t worry though…they will only close one ramp at a time and each closure will only last two to four hours.

Signed detours will also be up.

Check our I-5 construction update page for updated closure information.

On Wednesday March 27, the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors will hold a regular School Board Meeting at 5:00 pm in the high school library.  This is an open public meeting.  

All public comment, with the exception of public hearings on policy, budget or other specific items, will be heard during the “Public Comment” section of the Call to Order of the regular meeting. 

Anyone wishing to address the board on any topic will be scheduled to speak during the public comment period by the Administrative Assistant present at the board meeting.  Check in to be scheduled to speak will occur during the 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.     

Please see the agenda at https://www.boarddocs.com/wa/sjisd/Board.nsf/Public

This is a quick look at the board agenda for your convenience.  Please be aware that the agendas could change prior to the board meeting.

San Juan County Department of Community Development (DCD) held a lottery for Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permits on March 5, 2019. The results of the lottery are now available on the SJC Website.

Additional Info…

“Answering Light” – Photo by John Miller

John Miller is back with another beautiful photo of Cattle Point Light. Here he is with the story…

Hello San Juan Update – here is a drone shot from the other night – my wife named it “Answering Light”. It is also a solstice moon!

~ John