Skagit Valley College receives National Science Foundation grant for composites recycling education and training Skagit Valley College (SVC) has been awarded a $194,076 grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop technician training under the Composite Technician Education Program (CRTEP). Through the grant, SVC will team up with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB),  Continue Reading

Fundraising Music Tour The DAYA Foundation and Benares Academy of Indian Classical Music present the venerable Deobrat Mishra for an evening of sacred music and sangha. Deobrat Mishra is a world touring Indian Classical sitarist in the traditional style of Benares Gharana. He is also the director of the non-profit organization Academy of Indian Classical  Continue Reading

Take a community education course “Energy and Society” at Skagit Valley College’s San Juan Center. Fall weather is upon us and an excellent time take a class. Join our “Energy and Society” course, starting this week, and learn and discuss the scientific basis for our conventional and renewable/sustainable energy sources. We will cover the political, socio-economic, philosophical  Continue Reading

Four-Week Class on Anonymous Women in the Bible A four-week class on “Harlots, Widows, and Barren Women” explores some of the nameless women whom biblical history has forgotten. Led by Dr. Rebecca Moore, the course will look at the ways in which narratives about these unnamed women contribute to the theologies that appear in the  Continue Reading

Fall weather is here . . . A perfect time to take a personal enrichment class at the San Juan Center of Skagit Valley College. Most classes begin the week of Sept. 19th, so sign up now. Call 378-3220 for more infomation. Energy and Society Join Dr. Michael Balise for an exploration of the scientific  Continue Reading

Fall Quarter at the San Juan Center of Skagit Valley College begins Monday, September 19th. The San Juan Center is pleased to welcome new faculty member, Jill McCabe Johnson. Jill will be teaching English Composition and writing courses. She is the author of two poetry collections, Diary of the One Swelling Sea, winner of a  Continue Reading

All gardeners are invited to this year’s 2016 Annual Gardening Workshop: Secrets of Gardening, presented by the San Juan County Master Gardeners at Friday Harbor Middle School on Saturday, October 1st, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year’s keynote speaker will be author and biologist Thor Hanson (thorhanson.net), speaking about seeds, based on his  Continue Reading

EDC offers FREE workshop on business planning and financing The San Juan County Economic Development Council will present a FREE workshop for small businesses and entrepreneurs on San Juan Island, on Monday, September 19th from 11 a.m. -2:30 p.m. Advance registration is required. The business and financing workshop course material will be presented by Tony  Continue Reading

Let’s see what’s in the mailbag today… Here’s a good one: a San Juan Update reader from California, Paul Denikin, shares this set of tips on Ecologically Friendly remodeling tips for your home. Check them out below and be sure to visit his website… The Best Eco-Friendly Remodeling Tips Going green is an important part of  Continue Reading

Join the National Park Service and Island Rec to honor the 50th Anniversary of San Juan Island National Historical Park. 7:00pm Bat Talk ‘n Walk 8:00pm Cake 8:30pm Owl Prowl ‘n Star Walk. Large telescopes will be available for viewing. Rochelle Kelly, (a PhD candidate at the University of Washington studying our local bats), will  Continue Reading

Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers will visit September 8-10 The traveling trainers are back and they’re bringing Big Foot along to share their message of sustainable minimum impact practices to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Click here for more information about Leave No Trace and be sure to check out the flyer at right to see what’s  Continue Reading

TEDxSanJuanIsland returns on Saturday, September 17th for a second installment of inspiration, collaboration, and ideas worth spreading. This year’s theme – ‘Quality of Life’ – focuses on ideas that have made a lasting contribution to the betterment of society.  Speakers at the forefront of fields such as science, health, technology, art and education will present ideas  Continue Reading

Over 60 volunteers served up approximately 1,200 slices of donated pies for the first fundraiser of the newly established FHES PTO (Parent Teacher Organization). A very big THANK YOU from the FHES PTO Board and Pie Booth Committee! “We are so grateful to the community and the outpouring of support, from pie bakers and servers,  Continue Reading

Join the UW Program on Climate Change and Friday Harbor Laboratories for this two-part public lecture followed by refreshments and conversation featuring Stephen Warren and Kyle Armour on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Friday Harbor Labs Dining Hall. Climate of the Antarctic Ice Sheet presented by Stephen Warren, UW Most  Continue Reading

Explore the geology of Mount Grant Preserve! Local geologist, Julia Turney, will lead an interpretive walk up the Mount Grant access road, stopping to look at rock exposures and geologic features. Over the course of the walk, Julia will unearth the general geology of the San Juan Islands, the geologic history of Mount Grant Preserve,  Continue Reading

In case you missed the flash mob at this year’s fair, don’t despair. Debbi Fincher has you covered with this note and video of the event. Here she is with more on that… I thought I’d share with you the little video from this year’s Flash Mob at the Fair – DANCE 4 HEALTH by  Continue Reading