Our roving photographer, The Queen Bee, took time from singing along to catch Elsa in a nice moment with some of her fans.

The Palace Theater’s Aaron King has brought in some high-powered help to make sure your popcorn gets to you in time for the start of Star Wars. I have it on good authority that Kristin’s helper is Storm Trooper Rhiannon.

Dear San Juan Island Neighbor & Friend, May your holiday season be filled with joy and thanks for the gift of living in such a special place! As you may already know, the mission of San Juan Island Service Scholarship is to support higher education and promote volunteerism among our community’s youth.  Students who have  Continue Reading

Hey all you local store owners, found this email (below) in the San Juan Update mailbag today, and I’m not quite sure how to answer. I figure this is your chance to let people know what your store hours will be on New Year’s Day: Hi There, Being from a small town myself, I’m wondering if  Continue Reading

This week the county board of health passed an ordinance relating to the sale, use, and availability of e-cigarettes, becoming one of the first counties in the state to tackle this subject. The ordinance was drafted by county health officer Dr. Frank James. The regulations — such as requiring photo I.D. and banning sales to  Continue Reading

For gifts for your friends and their pets, check out the Animal Shelter Holiday Shoppe located behind the General Deli. Proceeds go toward building the new Animal Shelter on Cattle Point Road.

San Juan Community Theatre celebrates the season with presentations of two holiday classics and a family-friendly opera on the big screen in December. On Sunday, December 20 at 2:00 p.m., the sing-along version of Disney’s Frozen will have kids of all ages humming “Let it go, let it go…” throughout the holidays. The animated hit  Continue Reading

Kevin Holmes captured this image of people lining up, some in costume, for the opening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the theater on Thursday night. Thanks for sharing Kevin!

Francis has led a most interesting life. He was born in the west central lowlands of Scotland, was a B-52 pilot during the Vietnam War and afterward attended USC, Berkeley, and Cal State in LA where he completed multiple Masters degrees in Zoology. His professional career was in the Medication Industry. Francis has steadfastly served  Continue Reading

San Juan Island Library offers a host of special holiday events for children, families, and teens… After School Arts Ornament Making on Thursday, December 17: 3:15-4:15 PM in the Meeting Room  *Make holiday ornaments. Light refreshments served.  Appropriate for elementary school children.    Santa Storytime with Special Guests, Friday, December 18, 10:30 AM in the Main Salon  *Hear holiday songs  Continue Reading

The Center for Whale Research shares this press release… For More Information: see our website whaleresearch.com Another new Baby in J Pod!! Designated J54 – sex unknown. Mother is J28, a twenty-two year old female Southern Resident Killer Whale in the Pacific Northwest. The mother had a previous baby designated J46, a female, born in 2009  Continue Reading

Aaron Shepard checks in with another beautiful photo – this one was shot at the Island Lights tree lighting festival last week. For more of Aaron’s photos of the Island Lights Festival, visit his photo blog, “An Islander’s Eye.” Thanks for sharing Aaron!

It’s not too late to have your photo taken with Skipper and Top Cat at the Animal Shelter’s Holiday Shoppe! Stop by the shop, located on Spring Street next to the Chamber of Commerce, Saturday between noon and 2:00 and join in the fun! There are lots of great gift ideas at the shop too,  Continue Reading

OLYMPIA – The State today begins accepting applications for the No Child Left Inside program, which is aimed at giving at-risk children outdoor experiences. The No Child Left Inside grant program is funded by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and administered by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). The grants are  Continue Reading

Winners of Launch San Juan Islands business plan competition lauded at awards luncheon The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) is excited to announce the winners of their first annual business plan competition, Launch San Juan Islands. The winners and all finalists were lauded at an awards luncheon at Coho Restaurant in Friday Harbor, on December 1st, 2015.  Continue Reading

Skagit Valley College awarded $2,107,806 in US Department of Education Title III funds MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Skagit Valley College (SVC) has received a five-year, $2,107,806 Title III grant from the United States Department of Education. SVC received the grant under the Office of Postsecondary Education’s Strengthening Institutions Program. “Skagit Valley College is dedicated to  Continue Reading