Topic: Around Here

Letter to the editor from the Committee to Renew EMS

Written on February 11, 2022 at 6:51 pm, by

We would like to thank all of you who supported the campaign to renew the EMS levy with your financial help, your letters, your emails, your social media posts and, most of all, your votes. After such a difficult and contentious campaign it was gratifying that the large majority of you (nearly two to one)  Continue Reading

Looking up at the Legislative Building

Written on February 11, 2022 at 3:27 pm, by

48 new COVID cases on San Juan Island

Written on February 11, 2022 at 10:56 am, by

The San Juan County Department of Emergency Management reports 48 confirmed or probable new COVID cases on San Juan Island since Feb. 4. The County also reports eight new cases on Orcas Island and eight on Lopez Island. This week’s 64 new cases bring the total case count to 1,112. The County notes that more  Continue Reading

Returning home

Written on February 10, 2022 at 7:40 pm, by

Special Olympics program coming to San Juan Island

Written on February 10, 2022 at 5:27 pm, by

Together with the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center, Island Rec is bringing a Special Olympics program to San Juan Island this spring. A track and field program, which runs from March 7 through June 19, is available at no cost to individuals with intellectual disabilities eight years of age and older. Coaching will be  Continue Reading

Best of the Fest films for Feb. 12–18

Written on February 10, 2022 at 10:41 am, by

 The Friday Harbor Film Festival’s Best of the Fest series presents one feature-length documentary along with one or two shorter documentary films each week in February. The films are streamed on demand. For the week of Feb. 12 to 18, FHFF is showing Mission:Joy and My Invisible Husband. FHFF shared with the Update a  Continue Reading

EDC to offer free home care aide training

Written on February 10, 2022 at 8:48 am, by

The Economic Development Council of San Juan County announced that they will offer free home care aide training later this year. The EDC will also provide financial support for the cost of state certification fees. According to the EDC: HCA certification can help people earn a living while helping their neighbors. Working as an HCA  Continue Reading

Moss on a rock at American Camp

Written on February 9, 2022 at 8:15 pm, by

Sealth replaces Tillikum on the interisland route until March

Written on February 9, 2022 at 4:24 pm, by

Last week the MV Tillikum headed south to Washington State Ferries’ Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility on Bainbridge Island, where it will remain until early March. The vessel — built in 1959 and refit in 1994 — is in Eagle Harbor for its annual maintenance and inspections. The larger MV Sealth has replaced the Tillikum on  Continue Reading

Master Gardener Foundation plant sale continues

Written on February 9, 2022 at 1:40 pm, by

The San Juan County Master Gardener Foundation’s online plant sale runs through March 11, but many of this year’s choices have already sold out or are close to selling out. The annual sale started about two weeks ago and includes bundles of bare root shrubs and bulbs, along with locally grown wildflowers produced by the  Continue Reading

Soroptimists seek donations to obtain matching grant

Written on February 9, 2022 at 9:22 am, by

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor has opted to cancel its in-person St. Patrick’s Day dinner and auction because of concerns about rising COVID cases on San Juan Island. This is the third straight year that the event has been cancelled. The St. Patrick’s Day dinner is the primary way the organization raises funds for its  Continue Reading

EMS and education levies expected to pass

Written on February 8, 2022 at 8:14 pm, by

According to preliminary results released by the San Juan County Elections Office at 8 p.m. on Feb. 8, both levies put before the voters of San Juan Island in today’s special election are expected to pass. San Juan County Public Hospital District Proposition 1, a six-year emergency medical services property tax levy renewal, has received 64.66  Continue Reading

Inside the free shack at the Port

Written on February 8, 2022 at 7:02 pm, by

More free at-home COVID tests available Feb. 10

Written on February 8, 2022 at 4:11 pm, by

An additional 3,000 free at-home COVID tests kit are being made available to the community by San Juan County Health and Community Services. Distribution on San Juan Island will take place at the Mullis Center on Thursday, Feb. 10, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The County distributed 5,000 free tests in the islands last  Continue Reading

Cask & Schooner re-opens on Thursday

Written on February 8, 2022 at 1:23 pm, by

After closing for more than a month to repair water damage suffered during December’s extreme cold weather, Cask & Schooner is set to re-open with limited hours starting this Thursday, Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. “It certainly has been challenging,” says manager BooBoo James. “After the incredible freeze we had a lot of flooding because  Continue Reading

Special election voting ends today

Written on February 8, 2022 at 5:30 am, by

Islanders are set to decide the fate of two property tax levies as mail-in voting for the Feb. 8 special election concludes tonight at 8 p.m. San Juan County Public Hospital District Proposition 1, a six-year emergency medical services property tax levy renewal, would increase the existing levy rate to $0.45 per $1,000 of assessed  Continue Reading