By Deb Langhans, holistic life coach, Journeys to Healing Journeys to Healings presents “Processing the Pandemic” Inner Journey Collage© Workshop from 10 a.m.-noon and 3-5 p.m. Sunday, June 27 online for $50.  The scourge of COVID-19 has upended our lives as the most horrific pandemic since 1918. While vaccines provide hope for eventually defeating the  Continue Reading

From the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor Lori Haugen is the Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor volunteer of the month for June 2021. Lori started volunteering for the shelter in February 2021 as a Treasure Hounds retail associate. Lori also volunteers her time helping at the shelter, in the APS-FH Low-Cost Spay and Neuter  Continue Reading

Community Foundation Funds Computers   By Beth Helstien, volunteer/outreach coordinator, San Juan Island Library People without computer access will want to give a huge shout-out to the San Juan Island Community Foundation for supporting the Tech-to-Go pilot program. The San Juan Island Library now loans kits that include a Windows laptop computer with current Microsoft  Continue Reading

Attached Guest Houses Temporarily Allowed in Residential Zone   From the Town of Friday Harbor On June 3, the Town Council adopted interim regulations allowing attached accessory dwelling units in the single-family residential zone. The ordinance intends to create a pathway to turn existing structures into livable spaces. “This is a historic moment for the  Continue Reading

Sunrise over Roche Harbor by Kevin Holmes From the Roche Harbor Neighborhood Association The Roche Harbor Neighborhood Association, a charity serving northern San Juan Island, is expanding its traditional programs to help residents prepare for emergencies. The project launched June 1 and runs through December 2021. Natural disasters – earthquakes, wildfires, tsunamis, pandemics, winter storms  Continue Reading

  By Cere Demuth, San Juan Island    So many of you want to gather to mourn and celebrate Vida Wight, to support and uplift me and my family.   But Vida was not a lover of large groups or attention. She liked her space, to say the least.   As a little girl, she  Continue Reading

From the League of Women Voters Join us for the League of Women Voters’ Zoom meeting, noon-2 p.m. June 14 on emergency preparedness and response. Natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions can occur any time. The massive wildfires that affected the Pacific Northwest in 2020 are a sharp reminder of how quickly  Continue Reading

From San Juan Island Library In conjunction with our reopening on June 8, all San Juan Island Library patrons will receive COVID-Relief Amnesty for billed charges on patron accounts incurred between January 2016 and December 2020. All charges have been waived. In light of the financial and social impacts of the last year, the library  Continue Reading

From San Juan Islands Community Network The number of vacation rentals in the San Juans has been a contentious issue in the county over the past few years. Letters to the Editor of local news outlets presented a divided community on the viability, use and number of vacation rentals throughout the islands. In an effort  Continue Reading

Sunday, May 30th the San Juan Islands DAR chapter joined the Friday Harbor American Legion Post 163 and it’s Auxiliary to plant flags at the Valley Cemetery on San Juan Island. At noon the next day we returned to the cemetery and conducted a Memorial Day service to honor the men and women who died  Continue Reading

The Board of Commissioners of San Juan Island Public Hospital District #1 and Superintendent Nathan Butler are very happy to announce that the District has paid off in full the Frank Wilson Memorial EMS Building. Superintendent Butler said “We are so privileged to have this building which carries the name of former EMS Chief Frank  Continue Reading

From San Juan Island Library Starting Tuesday, June 8, the San Juan Island Library will reopen its doors for limited services and hours. The library will provide simultaneous indoor browsing and curbside services on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with a 65+/high-risk population hour on Tuesdays from 10-11 a.m. Patrons are  Continue Reading

The San Juan Island Farmers Market. From San Juan County The Orcas and San Juan Island Farmers Markets are set up to accept SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known in Washington as Basic Food. SNAP helps people with low incomes make ends meet by providing monthly benefits to buy food. To find out  Continue Reading

From American Legion Post 163 Memorial Day is for honoring and remembering the soldiers who have given their lives in the line of duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. American Legion Post 163 in Friday Harbor will hold an honor guard ceremony at the two San Juan Island cemeteries at 11 a.m., May 31 on  Continue Reading

From Island Rec Join Alchemy Art Center staff and guest artists for fun and free community art days in John O. Linde Community Park. Professional artists will lead an exciting roster of activities including indigo dyeing, sun prints, clay planters, funny faces, printing on t-shirts, and more. Due to safety precautions, space will be limited.  Continue Reading

From the Town of Friday Harbor Friday Harbor Town Administrator Duncan Wilson announced he will retire Jan. 4, 2022, after nine years in the position.  He took over for King Fitch in 2012. Wilson previously served as the city administrator of North Bend, Washington for six years. Prior to that, he had been an attorney  Continue Reading

From organizers Becky Armstrong fell on May 10 and broke her shoulder. She is in a lot of pain and has her right arm immobilized in a sling. She is the independent business owner of Hello, Gorgeous where she gives manicures and pedicures. This job requires the use of both hands. She is unable to  Continue Reading

By John Geyman, M.D. “America’s Mighty Medical-Industrial Complex: Negative Impacts and Positive Solutions” by John Geyman, M.D., gives background on the rise of an enormous medical-industrial complex over the last 60 years. It has brought wealth to corporations and stockholders at the expense of most Americans who struggle to gain access to affordable health care.  Continue Reading

From the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild It seems like only a few years ago that the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild threw a grand opening party for our community’s beloved Brickworks building and plaza, but in fact, the original historic building is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. May is “History Lives Here” month  Continue Reading

From Island Rec Island Rec is pleased to welcome Katie Aiello as its new recreation specialist. Katie will primarily be organizing sports, fitness and outdoor programming. After spending the last 10 summers on San Juan Island, she is happy to now call it her permanent home. Katie is originally from California but has also lived  Continue Reading

“Island Senior” is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae. In times past the Mullis Center has celebrated the volunteers who keep the center running with festive occasions. This year, in pandemic mode, the Mullis Center’s appreciation was expressed in a quieter but equally appreciative gesture. Gift bags were  Continue Reading

From the Town of Friday Harbor Town of Friday Harbor Finance Director Kelle’ Wilson retired May 7 after 28 working in the town’s finance department. The town council created a proclamation in honor of her last day. Proclamation Ownering Kelle’ Wilson Upon her Retirement WHEREAS, Kelle’ Wilson has distinguished herself as a hard-working and dedicated  Continue Reading