Topic: Around Here
It’s good to be Soot
Written on March 8, 2022 at 2:21 pm, by Jeff Arnim
Living on a boat. Regularly speeding across the harbor in a skiff. Working part-time at Griffin Bay Bookstore. Taking relaxed walks through the streets and parks of Friday Harbor. Sailing to the outer islands for an afternoon hike. Sleeping soundly next to your favorite person each night. It’s the kind of life to which many Continue Reading
Island Jobs: EDC hiring a Trades Coordinator
Written on March 8, 2022 at 8:20 am, by Jeff Arnim
The San Juan County Economic Development Council is hiring a Trades Coordinator to develop, promote, and review its workforce training programs. Learn more in the Island Jobs section of the San Juan Update.
Friday Harbor Port Commission agenda for March 9
Written on March 7, 2022 at 12:45 pm, by Jeff Arnim
The Friday Harbor Port Commission will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 9 at 12 p.m. Items up for discussion at Wednesday’s meeting include: FAA correspondence relative to hangar penetrations of controlled air space and the B2 Narrow standard Needed barge landing road repairs and desired County/Town participation Washington State Department of Ecology Model Continue Reading
EDC offering website improvement workshop on March 22
Written on March 7, 2022 at 8:43 am, by Jeff Arnim
The San Juan County Economic Development Council invites Island business owners to an upcoming workshop on improving their websites. According to the EDC: Course leader Shannon Borg, business coach and Squarespace web designer, will show participants how to assess their business websites with a simple tool designed to evaluate sites. During the workshop, participants will Continue Reading
The view from an outrigger canoe
Written on March 6, 2022 at 5:21 pm, by San Juan Update
Hui Wa’a Puget Sound North (also known as the San Juan Canoe & Kayak Club) shares an update on what the club has been up to for the past few years and what they have in store for the 2022 paddling season. Back in 2003, Olympic kayaker David Halpern started a kayak and outrigger canoe Continue Reading
County Council agenda for March 8
Written on March 6, 2022 at 9:48 am, by Jeff Arnim
The San Juan County Council will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 8 at 9 a.m. The Council will hold two public hearings, including time for public comment: Approving resolutions to dispose of Sheriff surplus property — landing craft and drug-trained dog Considering an ordinance adopting amendments to the personnel policy manual Items up Continue Reading
An update on the Community Paramedicine program
Written on March 5, 2022 at 4:38 pm, by San Juan Update
San Juan County Public Hospital District shares the following update on its Community Paramedicine program. 2021 was a landmark year for Community Paramedicine and Outreach at San Juan Island EMS. The most significant change was hiring a new Community Paramedicine and Outreach EMT, Ryder Cuddington, to assist Director Lainey Volk. Community Paramedicine is funded through Continue Reading
Letter to the Editor: Support the democratic process in San Juan County
Written on March 5, 2022 at 1:44 pm, by San Juan Update
I’m writing to express my support for ranked choice voting being on the ballot for San Juan County voters to vote on this November, along with the other three charter amendments put forward by the Charter Review Commission. While I support ranked choice voting as a concept, I’m not writing to make an argument for Continue Reading
Letter to the Editor: We are all visitors to these islands
Written on March 5, 2022 at 7:15 am, by San Juan Update
There has been much discussion about tourism, overpopulation, exhaustion or abuse of natural resources in the San Juan Islands ranging from anguish at environmental degradation and changes imposed by crowding, noise, and destruction of community on the one hand, and anger expressed toward perceived causes such as new people, always excepting ourselves, on the other. Continue Reading
Month-end real estate market snapshot
Written on March 4, 2022 at 3:54 pm, by Jeff Arnim
Merri Ann Simonson sends along this month-end real estate market snapshot for San Juan Island. No, that’s not a typo — there are zero for-sale homes on the island priced $600,000 or less. The total number of active listings on San Juan Island — which includes both homes and land — is just 38. Another Continue Reading
20 new COVID cases on San Juan Island; mask mandate expected to be lifted on March 12
Written on March 4, 2022 at 9:36 am, by Jeff Arnim
The San Juan County Department of Emergency Management reports 20 confirmed or probable new COVID cases on San Juan Island since Feb. 25 — roughly the same as last week. The County reports just one new case each on Orcas Island and Lopez Island. This week’s 22 new cases bring the total case count to Continue Reading
It’s good to be Soot
Written on March 8, 2022 at 2:21 pm, by Jeff Arnim
Living on a boat. Regularly speeding across the harbor in a skiff. Working part-time at Griffin Bay Bookstore. Taking relaxed walks through the streets and parks of Friday Harbor. Sailing to the outer islands for an afternoon hike. Sleeping soundly next to your favorite person each night. It’s the kind of life to which many Continue Reading
Island Jobs: EDC hiring a Trades Coordinator
Written on March 8, 2022 at 8:20 am, by Jeff Arnim
The San Juan County Economic Development Council is hiring a Trades Coordinator to develop, promote, and review its workforce training programs. Learn more in the Island Jobs section of the San Juan Update.
Friday Harbor Port Commission agenda for March 9
Written on March 7, 2022 at 12:45 pm, by Jeff Arnim
The Friday Harbor Port Commission will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 9 at 12 p.m. Items up for discussion at Wednesday’s meeting include: FAA correspondence relative to hangar penetrations of controlled air space and the B2 Narrow standard Needed barge landing road repairs and desired County/Town participation Washington State Department of Ecology Model Continue Reading
EDC offering website improvement workshop on March 22
Written on March 7, 2022 at 8:43 am, by Jeff Arnim
The San Juan County Economic Development Council invites Island business owners to an upcoming workshop on improving their websites. According to the EDC: Course leader Shannon Borg, business coach and Squarespace web designer, will show participants how to assess their business websites with a simple tool designed to evaluate sites. During the workshop, participants will Continue Reading
The view from an outrigger canoe
Written on March 6, 2022 at 5:21 pm, by San Juan Update
Hui Wa’a Puget Sound North (also known as the San Juan Canoe & Kayak Club) shares an update on what the club has been up to for the past few years and what they have in store for the 2022 paddling season. Back in 2003, Olympic kayaker David Halpern started a kayak and outrigger canoe Continue Reading
County Council agenda for March 8
Written on March 6, 2022 at 9:48 am, by Jeff Arnim
The San Juan County Council will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 8 at 9 a.m. The Council will hold two public hearings, including time for public comment: Approving resolutions to dispose of Sheriff surplus property — landing craft and drug-trained dog Considering an ordinance adopting amendments to the personnel policy manual Items up Continue Reading
An update on the Community Paramedicine program
Written on March 5, 2022 at 4:38 pm, by San Juan Update
San Juan County Public Hospital District shares the following update on its Community Paramedicine program. 2021 was a landmark year for Community Paramedicine and Outreach at San Juan Island EMS. The most significant change was hiring a new Community Paramedicine and Outreach EMT, Ryder Cuddington, to assist Director Lainey Volk. Community Paramedicine is funded through Continue Reading
Letter to the Editor: Support the democratic process in San Juan County
Written on March 5, 2022 at 1:44 pm, by San Juan Update
I’m writing to express my support for ranked choice voting being on the ballot for San Juan County voters to vote on this November, along with the other three charter amendments put forward by the Charter Review Commission. While I support ranked choice voting as a concept, I’m not writing to make an argument for Continue Reading
Letter to the Editor: We are all visitors to these islands
Written on March 5, 2022 at 7:15 am, by San Juan Update
There has been much discussion about tourism, overpopulation, exhaustion or abuse of natural resources in the San Juan Islands ranging from anguish at environmental degradation and changes imposed by crowding, noise, and destruction of community on the one hand, and anger expressed toward perceived causes such as new people, always excepting ourselves, on the other. Continue Reading
Month-end real estate market snapshot
Written on March 4, 2022 at 3:54 pm, by Jeff Arnim
Merri Ann Simonson sends along this month-end real estate market snapshot for San Juan Island. No, that’s not a typo — there are zero for-sale homes on the island priced $600,000 or less. The total number of active listings on San Juan Island — which includes both homes and land — is just 38. Another Continue Reading
20 new COVID cases on San Juan Island; mask mandate expected to be lifted on March 12
Written on March 4, 2022 at 9:36 am, by Jeff Arnim
The San Juan County Department of Emergency Management reports 20 confirmed or probable new COVID cases on San Juan Island since Feb. 25 — roughly the same as last week. The County reports just one new case each on Orcas Island and Lopez Island. This week’s 22 new cases bring the total case count to Continue Reading