The Oscars are coming to the Yacht Club! Friday Harbor Film Festival invites you to their annual gala event. Here they are with more…

We are so pleased to announce that the FHFF Oscar Gala returns to the beautiful Friday Harbor Yacht Club for 2019.

Watch the Oscar Ceremony LIVE on the Big Screen on Sunday, February 24th, 2019. Join with FHFF, as we host the 3rd Annual Oscars Fundraiser Gala!

Celebrate film and watch the Oscars live on the big screen with your friends! Doors open at 4:30 pm with live Red Carpet Coverage on the big screen, followed by the Oscar Ceremony at 6:00 pm.

Enjoy a wonderful selection of gourmet tapas prepared by fabulous local chefs accompanied by an assortment of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Choose to dress in your glamorous best, or get creative and come in costume as a film character or actor/actress. Whatever you wear – it will certainly be a fun-filled evening. Read More »

EDC Partners with SJI Community Foundation and WA State Dept. of Commerce on Plumbing Course

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) is proud to announce their partnership with the San Juan Island Community Foundation, the Washington State Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund, and the Washington State Department of Commerce to offer an upcoming Plumbing Basics class at the Friday Harbor High School in January and February.  Because of these partnerships, this course will be offered tuition-free to young people and career changers on San Juan Island. 

The course will be taught at the Friday Harbor High School STEM Center by Brent Huntington, retired plumber.  The program is intended to benefit participating students as well as local plumbing companies in need of skilled employees.  The hands-on curriculum has been designed for high school students and career changers, and will include career information, tool usage, standard plumbing code, safety, and more.  This class is free to participants in San Juan County, but space is limited and requires pre-registration as well as a filing fee of $10.  Please note:  this course is not designed for DIY home repair.

The course will run from 4:00-6:00PM Tuesdays and Thursdays from January 29^th though February 26^th of 2019. There is no cost for the training; pre-registration and a $10 filing fee is required.  The deadline to apply is Friday, January 25th.  To apply, please visit the EDC’s website at www.sanjuansedc.org/trades.  For more information call the EDC office at 360-378-2906 or email EDC Trades Coordinator at glenn@sanjuansedc.org. Read More »

Merri Ann Simonson is back with another SJI Lifestyle video…

This San Juan Island Lifestyle video shares how much we enjoyed fishing in the 2019 Roche Harbor Salmon Derby:

Alchemy Art Center is introducing it’s brand new printmaking studio and photography darkroom with an open house on Sunday, January 27th, from 2:00-5:00 PM.

Alchemy Art Center, founded by Maria Michaelson and Eben Shay in 2017, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing specialized art equipment for San Juan Islanders in a shared studio setting.  Alchemy has offered a fully-equipped ceramics studio for almost two years, and their team is excited to incorporate print and photo into their programming.

Honored at the Grand Opening event will be legendary island artists Mary Ann Rock and Virginia (Ginger) Van Camp, whose printing presses were generously donated to Alchemy’s print department by their respective families.  Works by both artists will be on display (provided for the evening by Malcolm Suttles and the Van Camp Family), and the printing of an original Mary Ann Rock woodblock will inaugurate them in their new space.

In addition, interactive photography and darkroom activities will be presented by Malcolm Suttles and Danielle Dean, both of whom have been instrumental in organizing Alchemy’s new photo department. Read More »

Micaiah Sawyer – Contributed photo

Micaiah Sawyer is coming to SJCT on Saturday, February 9th at 7:30 pm. She hummed her first notes to the melody of Ode to Joy at sixteen months old, wrote her first song at 10, and hasn’t stopped making music since.

She has been recognized by and has worked with many prestigious musicians such as Grammy award winning bassist Garey Shelton and Drummer Ben Smith of Heart.

In 2009, Micaiah won the opportunity to record with drummer and producer Ken Mary, formerly of Alice Cooper. This was her first endeavor into the professional music industry, and it solidified her passion to pursue music as her career.

Shortly after, as a senior in high school, Micaiah received a full scholarship to attend Grammy Camp, a selective music intensive held in LA. Read More »

San Juan Island Fire Department Announces January 2019 Firefighters of the Month

L to R: Firefighter Jerry Sears, Fire Chief Norvin Collins, Firefighter Dennis Sears – Contributed photo

The San Juan Island Fire and Rescue Department is proud to announce the January 2019 Firefighter of the Month.

In this instance, we actually mean, Firefighters of the month. Please join us in congratulating Firefighters Jerry and Dennis Sears for their consistent and humble service to our community and the Fire Department.

There was considerable effort in picking which of the Sears was most deserving of the acknowledgement. However, since it is frequently difficult to tell them apart, whether they are in full firefighter gear or not, it was a tough selection.

Both of the Sears brothers are equally active in responding to emergency calls, training and their work on behalf of department in our community. As a result of their hard work, the Department selected both of the brothers for recognition.

The Fire Commissioners, Chief and all of the Department is grateful for all Jerry and Dennis Sears do and congratulate them for their service and dedication.

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The San Juan Island Fire & Rescue was established on October 6, 1958. The fire department covers about 55 square miles, includes all of San Juan Island, as well as Brown and Pearl Islands. For more information, please visit http://www.sjifire.org/

The San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) presents a visually arresting and powerful first-person history of pictures taken from the inside looking out- April 5 to June 3, 2019.

The exhibition showcases photographs, poems, and journal entries by twenty-five Vietnam veterans from around the US. Most of the material was previously kept hidden away, even from family and friends. Many veterans destroyed their photographs taken during the war in order to purge painful memories and close a visceral door to the past.

Some servicemen in Vietnam made pictures when they had time. Those lucky enough to afford both a camera and film used their tools with visual acuity, and in many cases, a high degree of skill.

The camera enabled them to create a parallel war experience where they had a modicum of control by choosing what to photograph – simple scenes evoking memories of home, gestures of lighthearted camaraderie, and the endless protocol and efficiency of war.

Taking pictures became a way to engage and remember local strangers. The camera also helped put the soldiers’ war experience into context, such as their understanding of the implications of an F-100 Super Sabre flying off into the dawn sky. Read More »

Interested in using native plants in your landscape?

There are many wonderful reasons to use PNW natives: they are often long lived and don’t need maintenance, they provide year-round color and garden interest, they can be used to stabilize hillsides and prevent erosion, and some are drought and heat tolerant, helpful in a warming climate. And they’re a “welcome mat” for wildlife, providing food and homes for beneficial insects, amphibians, birds and mammals.

This year’s selections include a dozen species of bare root evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and perennials like the ever-popular Red Flowering Currant and Mock Orange.

Order your plants now. Orders are due March 1st.

Order early for best selection, as quantities are limited and often sell out.

There will be many more plants available in containers at the sale, including a large selection of locally grown plants from Salish Seeds. Read More »