From Fourfront Contributor On Jan. 14, four of the largest community behavioral health providers in Washington State, including Compass Health, announced a new partnership called Fourfront Contributor, an advocacy and leadership coalition that utilizes their collective size and expertise to improve the health of individuals, communities and the systems that serve them. “This is an  Continue Reading

“Freezer Burned: Tales of Interior Alaska” is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Steve Ulvi. The Consequences of Us and Them The old man emerged slowly from a cocoon of feathered warmth. The radiant heating of the cabin had waned after midnight as the stove fire laid low. In the blackness,  Continue Reading

Annual Riders Down 10 million From 2019  From Washington State Ferries Annual ridership aboard Washington State Ferries plunged by nearly 10 million customers in 2020 – a drop of 41% from the previous year – to roughly 14 million. Stay-at-home orders, remote work and decreased tourism because of COVID-19 are the main reasons for the  Continue Reading

From the San Juan Island Economic Development Council The Tilth Alliance is now accepting applications for the Washington State Organic and Sustainable Farming Fund. This opportunity is available to farmers seeking financial assistance to support projects that will improve the economic viability, social impacts, or environmental sustainability of their farm businesses or community. The goal  Continue Reading

From San Juan County This Q&A will focus on the San Juan County response to the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. There are a number of local organizations working hard to get approval from the Washington State Department of Health so they can receive supplies and begin administering doses. However, even the members of the vaccine team  Continue Reading

From OPALCO In the early morning hours of Wednesday, Jan. 13, a big storm hit the Northwest region of Washington state with wind gusts of 50-65 mph in the San Juan Island area. By 1 a.m., all of San Juan County was without power after large trees fell onto the Puget Sound Energy lines feeding  Continue Reading

From the Washington State Department Of Health On Jan. 15, the Washington State Department of Health announced that based on Governor Jay Inslee’s Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery plan, all eight regions in Washington will remain in Phase 1 until at least Monday, Jan. 25. As outlined in the governor’s COVID-19 plan, regions must  Continue Reading

From Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor It is with great relief, excitement and joy to announce that Queenie, the infamous runaway dog, is back home safe and sound. It couldn’t have been done without community efforts; including reported sightings, awareness, volunteer work, and finally the assistance of professional trappers and one extra-large cage! Thank  Continue Reading

By Hayley Day, San Juan Update The San Juan County Council approved a six-month moratorium on vacation rental permits from Jan. 13 through July 13. The resolution states that “while this moratorium is in effect, no new applications for a vacation rental permit shall be accepted as complete by any county department, and no currently  Continue Reading

By Matt Marinkovich, Fish For Teeth Fish For Teeth fish tacos will be served at the San Juan Island Community Theatre, today, Friday, Jan.15, from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., or until we run out. An $8 suggested donation lands you a full-on burrito-sized “taco,” filled with sustainably-harvested Washington coastal rockfish, fresh organic salsa, Tillamook  Continue Reading