San Juan County residents! There is still time to make the fair entry deadline of August 8th! Visit the SJC Fair web page for information on how to participate in this year’s virtual Fair. Check out Online Entry by Department rules and to upload photos of all the awesome things you have made, created, grown, or  Continue Reading

The County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions. Additional information about each committee is available on the County’s website at: http://sanjuanco.com/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies. Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory committee should fill out an Advisory Committee Application or Contact the Council  Continue Reading

We hear from Miles Crossen, San Juan County Fair Photography Co-Superintendent… Attention all you photographers out there! You have about 10 days left to enter your pictures in the First Ever San Juan County Virtual Fair. Link to: Virtual Fair Online Entry

Be sure to get your ballot in the mail by August 4. You can also pop it in the ballot box by the courthouse by 8 pm August 4. Better yet, get your ballot in early. No postage is necessary. Need help? Link to the online Voters pamphlet (see link below) or to register go  Continue Reading

I am writing on behalf of San Juan Island Fire District #3 to extend our board’s full and deepest apology for the offensive comment made by Commissioner Cardinale during last night’s joint commission meeting. The commissioner’s comment was offensive, disrespectful and completely inappropriate. Fire District #3 does not in any way condone the use of  Continue Reading

Editor: Something shameful happened Tuesday afternoon.  The San Juan County Public Hospital District Commissioners (PHD) and the San Juan County Fire District 3 (FD3) Commissioners held a virtual joint public meeting to discuss the possibility of resuming discussion of integrating San Juan Island Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and FD3. The meeting was progressing with some  Continue Reading

The Town and its Friday Harbor Arts Commission have published Friday Harbor Poetry Gardens–a book of the winning entries in its first poetry garden contest. Thirty of the 271 entries submitted by local poets were selected for publication and for display at four outdoor poetry gardens within the town. The limited edition book is available  Continue Reading

Here’s a note to you from the Library… While waiting for Phase 3 to offer indoor services, we continue to improve outdoor offerings. The book drop located by the front doors is now open 24/7. Drop off your materials any day or hour. Our drive-through book drop is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from  Continue Reading

The San Juan Island Lions Club is pleased to announce that it has just approved and donated $10,000 ( Ten Thousand Dollars) to deserving organizations that provided programs and services to the residents of San Juan Island. The grants committee of the San Juan Island Lions Club, Tom Starr, Brian Brown, Bruce Galton, Jim Carroll  Continue Reading

By Louise Dustrude When the new Visitor Center opens at American Camp next summer there will be some familiar features — the curved-trunk Douglas fir at the entrance, the small clump of black locust trees within the parking lot, and the friendly, knowledgeable National Park Service staff and volunteers to answer questions. There will also  Continue Reading

Although 2020 has been an incredibly challenging school year, the San Juan Island Community Foundation carried on its tradition of awarding annual scholarships to local students. Over the last few months, SJICF has awarded just under $150k in college scholarships and awards to 39 local students for the 2020-2021 school year. 9 graduating seniors from Friday Harbor High  Continue Reading

Beginning on July 23rd – When Covid-19 made it necessary to cancel this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza, Friday Harbor Soroptimists moved on to the next best thing for our biggest fundraiser of the year. Women and girls of San Juan County need our assistance more than ever before, so we have moved our exciting  Continue Reading

San Juan County Fair staff are preparing to launch the San Juan County Fair virtually this year. The fair is an opportunity to showcase all the talents and resources of our islands, and we are working to host exhibits online, and offer virtual entertainment. Local businesses and non-profit organizations are encouraged to participate as “virtual  Continue Reading

Digging Deeper into Contact Tracing A more detailed look at how public health staff work to limit the spread of COVID in our community. This is by no means our most concise Hot Topic, but does contain useful info for those looking to understand a bit more about the public health response. As of July  Continue Reading

Love to garden? Want to enter in the Fair this year? The Fair’s Fruits & Vegetables Department is encouraging gardeners and farmers to donate food to the Orcas Island Food Bank, the San Juan Island Food Bank, and for the “Grow-A-Row” Food Donation program at Woodmen Hall on Lopez Island.  Fair staff will be on  Continue Reading

In the SJ Update Mailbag we have this letter today from Daniel Schwartz, SJC Republican Precinct Committee Officer… Response to the San Juan County Democrats Resolution on Police Reform The San Juan County Democrats have produced a resolution filled with the fabrications, revisionist history, and outright falsehoods that make up the woke playbook of today’s  Continue Reading