Topic: Government

This negative is a positive for island and community health

Written on April 16, 2020 at 11:04 am, by

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash., April 16, 2020 – With shared purpose, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center and San Juan County Health and Community Services continue to work together to control the spread of novel coronavirus and ensure the health of island communities. On Tuesday, April 14, both organizations were informed of COVID-19 test results performed for  Continue Reading

HOT TOPIC #16: April 15th An Insider’s Look at the San Juan County COVID Response Team

Written on April 16, 2020 at 9:18 am, by

COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders The first thing you need to know is that there are abbreviations for everything. From EOC (Emergency Operations Center) to PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to IC (Incident Commander), everything this team does is designed to make the most of every resource, down  Continue Reading

San Juan County Land Bank April Commission Meeting Cancelled

Written on April 16, 2020 at 9:14 am, by

Due to concern for public safety, as well as the extended orders from Governor Inslee and guidelines from the federal government, the April 17, 2020 Land Bank Commission meeting on Lopez Island is cancelled. The next scheduled Land Bank Commission meeting is Friday, May 15, 2020 on San Juan Island at the San Juan Island  Continue Reading

Letter From FH Town Administrator Duncan Wilson

Written on April 14, 2020 at 3:21 pm, by

Dear Community Member: During these trying times when most of us are following stay-at-home orders to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, I wanted to draw your attention to a critical operation that is underway in our community; the 2020 Census. It is extremely important that everyone in our community be counted. Last month,  Continue Reading

A Note From the Visitors Bureau

Written on April 13, 2020 at 1:00 pm, by

San Juan Islands Strong: The Visitors Bureau is Here for You FRIDAY HARBOR, WA… The San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau acknowledges and is concerned about the far-reaching impact the COVID-19 crisis has had on our small community. All around us we see acts of kindness and cohesiveness that make us grateful to be part of  Continue Reading

San Juan County COVID-19 Property Tax Relief

Written on April 13, 2020 at 12:56 pm, by

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, San Juan County Treasurer, Rhonda Pederson, has encouraged those who are able, to pay the full year in April to offset those who will have difficulty making the first half payment.  If you have been financially impacted by this pandemic and find yourself in need of a payment plan  Continue Reading

A Message From the Sheriff

Written on April 10, 2020 at 4:27 pm, by

Over the last few days, we have been getting a lot of calls and complaints regarding the vacation rentals in San Juan County advertising their rentals. Everyone is concerned about a huge influx of visitors during this time of crisis, and rightfully so. We have looked into nearly all of the complaints to date on  Continue Reading

Road Construction Work to Begin on Second Street in Downtown

Written on April 10, 2020 at 12:47 pm, by

The Town of Friday Harbor has contracted with San Juan County to perform chip sealing services on Second Street later this summer. In order to prepare this road to be chip sealed, it is necessary that we repair those areas that have degraded over the past 20 years. The areas impacted run from Spring Street  Continue Reading

Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney on Order Enforcement

Written on April 10, 2020 at 9:49 am, by

While a majority of San Juan County residents have been doing all they can to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, there are  reports of individuals or businesses choosing to ignore the recent orders from the Governor and the San Juan County Health Officer. In an effort to improve the County’s ability to  Continue Reading

Announcing “COVID-19 Community Conversations” for San Juan County

Written on April 9, 2020 at 7:45 am, by

During the COVID-19 crisis the San Juan County COVID Response Team have made a real effort to keep the public informed through our website (www.sjccovid.com), via local media, through Facebook (@sjcpublichealth), Twitter (@SanJuanCountyWA), through several video updates, and in both Spanish and English, in a unified effort to speak with one voice to as many  Continue Reading

Working Washington Small Business Grants

Written on April 9, 2020 at 7:37 am, by

The Washington State Department of Commerce is offering a new Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant (WWSBEG) program to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Businesses which qualify for the grant program and are located within San Juan County must go to the Commerce site at http://startup.choosewashingtonstate.com/covid-grants/, download the application, fill it out  Continue Reading

Hospital District Meeting

Written on April 6, 2020 at 3:04 pm, by

San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1 will be having a Special Board Meeting on April 8, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. This meeting will be entirely remote, in accordance with the governor’s emergency proclamation and revised Open Public Meetings Act guidelines (explanation by MRSC here). This meeting is intended to fill in for our  Continue Reading

BLM Spokane District temporarily closes additional recreation sites

Written on April 6, 2020 at 3:01 pm, by

Spokane, Wash. – The health and safety of our visitors and staff remains the first priority of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, our local partners and the state of Washington, the BLM is temporarily closing the following recreation sites, effective today, to help limit  Continue Reading

New Public Health Recommendation to Cover the Face

Written on April 6, 2020 at 5:48 am, by

Following a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revision to public health guidelines, San Juan County health officials recommend islanders cover their nose and mouth when leaving home for essential travel allowed under the Governor’s extended order. The face coverings do not have to be hospital grade but need to cover the nose  Continue Reading

Town will host Spring Cleanup April 27th through May 1st

Written on April 6, 2020 at 5:47 am, by

The Town of Friday Harbor is pleased to offer its residential refuse customers a one-time-only curbside pickup of items that are too large or too heavy for their refuse cans the week of April 27 – May 1. Pickup will take place on their regular collection day. “The Town saw an opportunity to encourage neighborhood  Continue Reading

Remote PHD Meeting

Written on April 5, 2020 at 5:45 am, by

San Juan County Public Hospital District No. 1 will be having a Board meeting on April 8, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. through Microsoft Teams. This meeting will be entirely remote, in accordance with the governor’s “stay home, stay healthy,” mandate and in keeping with emergency Open Public Meetings Act rules as issued in Proclamation 20-28  Continue Reading