Holiday Desserts and Port/ Sherry Wine Tasting
Friday Harbor Chocolates & Cakes by Felicitations

Friday Harbor Chocolates & Cakes by Felicitations are pleased to announce that due to popular demand, we will hold another Holiday Desserts and Port/ Sherry Wine Tasting event on Thursday, December 20.

The event will take place at Friday Harbor Chocolates between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. We will be featuring magical desserts created by Felicity specifically for the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays, each paired with an array of imported Port wines, Spanish Sherry and French Champagne selected by Friday Harbor Chocolates.

There will be a modest $8.00 tasting fee collected at the door. All desserts will be offered for sale and a 10% discount applied for all port/sherry & champagne purchased that evening.

Friday Harbor Chocolates is located next to Sandpebble at 255 Spring Street, Friday Harbor. (360) 370-0050.

Belle Mullis, Christmas at Home – photo McRae/Mullis family

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae…

Family traditions are something we value especially at the holidays. I’ve been thinking about how family traditions evolve and change over time. Three of my four sisters will be visiting me next week for a Pre-Christmas gift exchange party.

Talking over the menu, one thing we will carry on as a family tradition is Chex Party Mix.  I bought a small ready-made bag of it at the store today. It was disappointingly unlike what my Mom used to make. It seemed to need butter, pretzels, and Worcestershire Sauce. Some traditions are sacred.

One Christmas when my Mom, Flossie Mullis, was young and her sister Ina and brother Don were both attending the University of Washington, Ina and Don came home to Friday Harbor for Christmas with a big surprise for their Mom and Dad, a radio. The family gathered around and tuned into a holiday concert broadcast all the way from New York City! For us, growing up in the age of television, musical programs often played a part in our family holidays. Read More »

To address the crisis created by the closure of the Life Care Center of the San Juan Islands, the Community Long-Term Options Task Force was created.

Immediate Need: We are asking for donations and looking for passionate people who have shared their concerns about the lack of long-term care options in our county and are ready to partner with us to make this new vision of healthcare a reality.

Background: The task force has developed options that we have identified as being important and beneficial to the community. These options include micro-nursing homes based off the Green House Project model, affordable housing for low-income seniors, tele-health and social work programs, along with home health and home care alternatives.

In order for the next phase of our development to occur, the decision has been reached that we require a feasibility study to outline the following: Read More »

Three First-Time Activities at SJIMA

Sailing Past Cattle Point Rocks by Sam Connery

On December 20, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) invites everyone to enjoy the public art sculpture of Gareth Curtiss, art from students at Spring Street International School (SSIS) and paintings of beloved local artists Mary Ann Rock and Sam Connery. The reception is open from 4:30-7:30.

Visitors to the free reception will have the added treat of the musical talent of David Bayley.

Coupled with this celebration, the Town of Friday Harbor and SJIMA have partnered to bring sculptor Gareth Curtiss to SJIMA’s Atrium. Curtiss will be creating a portion of the Town’s commissioned artwork of Edward Warbass and his dog, Bob.  The Atrium will be open to the public from 11am – 5pm from December 17th – 21st. for these demonstrations.  Come and meet Gareth Curtiss and learn about the lost wax bronze casting process. Read More »

Calling all couch potatoes! Did you know that Friday Harbor’s new animal shelter has an “Enrichment Room”? This is a magical room where volunteers, staff and prospective adopters can spend time in a cozy, home-like setting with an adoptable dog or cat. 

Shelter volunteer, Elizabeth Farr, is seen here with dogs, Tucker and Anna, enjoying some quiet reading time. The room also has a television for those looking to cuddle up with a furry friend for a movie or their favorite Netflix show.

If you have some time to spend, or books you’d like to finally read, come on in! The dogs and cats in our care would love to spend some quality time with you!

EDC invites San Juan County knowledge workers to informal meetup

The EDC is working to create a knowledge worker network for islanders who work with code, data, graphics or words. Knowledge worker jobs include computer programming, editing, web design, engineering/scientific consulting, and others that primarily involve creating, manipulating, or analyzing information. Projects often involve combinations of these types of jobs (e.g., coding and design, or data analysis and writing).

A knowledge worker network could promote economic development by helping locals to find off-island clients, bringing more revenue and higher incomes to the islands. In addition, it would help local businesses find local talent more easily.

The EDC invites knowledge workers and those who work with them to attend an informal meetup on January 16th from 2:00 until 3:00 PM. at the Orcas Island Library and a second meeting on February 6th at the San Juan Island library at 2:30 to 3:30 PM. These are follow-ups to the EDC’s well-attended meetup on San Juan Island on October 24th.

In addition, the EDC has started an online group for San Juan County knowledge workers and other interested people. More information is available on the EDC website at www.sanjuansedc.org/kwn. If you would like to join, contact us at mickey@sanjuansedc.org.

The EDC thanks our funders for their support of this workshop and other EDC initiatives. These events are not affiliated with the Orcas Island Library or the San Juan Island Library.

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County. We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.

The courtyard in the back of Village at the Harbour – Tim Dustrude photo

Village at the Harbour, in conjunction with the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 163 is pleased to announce our first annual Holiday Extravaganza/ Festival of Lights. This free event is to be held from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at The Village at the Harbour on Thursday, December 20th, 2018 and is open to all of the Community.

As many of you know, our local treasure Mike Scott will have the Village at the Harbour decked out with some of the most amazing Holiday lights you will see on the Island. We will have Santa passing out candy canes and posing for pictures while you feast from a decadent dessert buffet, sip hot chocolate or cider, and enjoy traditional musical entertainment while taking in our spectacular Holiday light display.

This event will benefit the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center for their important service to our community. Guests may choose to contribute cash donations to be used toward the purchase of food and gas cards.

Join Island Stage Left for this warm and wonderful nostalgic look at Christmas stories and music based on the writings of Dylan Thomas.

• December 20th through 23rd at 7:00 pm.
• December 24th at 3:00 and 6:30 pm.

Reservations strongly recommended for Christmas Eve. (and Reservations for the 24th are going fast!)

All performances at the County Fairgrounds in the Marie Boe Building.