COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders As we head into the second half of August, local public and private schools are pursuing a range of options for the start of the school year. This article will not be addressing the specifics of school reopening plans-that will come directly  Continue Reading

This 2020 Fair season, Alchemy Art Center is grateful to be featured in the San Juan Island Community Foundation’s Matching Grant Program!  We are raising funds for the free kids arts programming we are currently offering in partnership with Island Rec and the Family Resource Center, as well as for the Kid Pod Classes we  Continue Reading

At last evening’s special board meeting, the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors approved a fall reopening plan for schools.  After several months of planning with the district workgroups and steering committee, Superintendent Fred Woods recommended to the Board that the San Juan Island public schools begin the 2020-2021 school year under a  Continue Reading

We hear from Maude at the School District… The San Juan Island School District Board of Directors will hold a Special School Board Meeting on Thursday August 6, at 5:00 pm as a Zoom meeting.  This meeting is open to the public.   To access the Zoom meeting, please click on “Video” within the electronic Board Agenda, or call the  Continue Reading

Governor Inslee announces education recommendations for 2020-2021 school year… San Juan County is among 5 counties in Washington State that are considered “Low Risk” for COVID-19. Plans regarding school reopening are made by the local health jurisdiction and school district. Gov. Jay Inslee, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and DOH’s state health officer, Dr.  Continue Reading

There is a lot going on at the Alchemy Art Center.   Dear Parents,   We have been looking forward to getting back to making art in person, and have some thoughts on how we can do so as safely as possible!   It seems to us that school will probably not be back to “normal” in  Continue Reading

The Friday Harbor High School Aerospace Team is at it again! The 2020 International Space Settlement Design Competition just finished, though without travelling to NASA as in the last two years. The Aerospace Team’s name this year is “Grumbo” (think Grumman mixed with Boeing) and the Friday Harbor High School Team joined with teams from  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

High School Juniors and Seniors can earn tuition-free college credit at Skagit Valley College through the Running Start program Did you know that High School Juniors and Seniors can earn tuition-free college credit at SVC while still in high school through the Running Start program? Students and families are invited to attend a virtual info  Continue Reading

Skagit Valley College to talk about Marine Trades training at virtual info night July 22 Skagit Valley College will be talking about Marine Trades training and employment at a Zoom info session on Wed., July 22, 6-7pm. Learn how SVC’s Marine Maintenance Technology program can power up your new career! To register please visit https://sforce.co/3fHmwJS  Continue Reading

The North Pacific Right Whale: Why You Should Care about the World’s Rarest Whale Join Friends of the San Juans and Kevin Campion of Deep Green Wilderness on July 23 at 6:30 pm to hear about Kevin and his team’s expeditions to film the North Pacific right whale.  You’ll learn about what right whales mean for modern  Continue Reading

2020 Summer Marine Naturalist Training Program will be Virtual The Whale Museum’s Summer Marine Naturalist Program is going virtual. This dynamic and high-quality program will still be 6-sessions and run on the following dates: July 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, and 22 with a one daybreak on July 19. The object of this program is  Continue Reading

John Geyman, M.D. announces the publication of his new book: Profiteering, Corruption and Fraud in U.S. Health Care. He raises questions that we have to ask and answer: Who is the health care system for – profits for health care corporations, their shareholders and Wall Street traders and investors? for corrupt and fraudulent scammers? or for  Continue Reading

Skagit Valley College Continuing and Community Education to offer virtual Hoop Camp for youth This summer, area youth can improve their basketball fundamentals and skills with virtual Hoop Camps taught via Zoom by Skagit Valley College Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Carl Howell. The camp will be offered via Zoom on July 21 and 22 from  Continue Reading

This FHL Tide Bite was written by Jen Burnaford… My first trip to UW Friday Harbor Labs was in 1995. After completing my undergraduate thesis on freshwater zooplankton and spending a post-bac year chasing primates through the jungles of Borneo, I had been accepted into the PhD program at Oregon State University in the Menge/Lubchenco  Continue Reading