In these partisan times, where do you go to talk about solutions to issues in a non-partisan way? Your League of Women Voters of the San Juans is a grassroots organization which is political. We discuss issues. But we are non-partisan. We do not endorse candidates or political parties. There are many issues that islanders  Continue Reading

The Town Council of Friday Harbor will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 5:30 p.m., to consider an ordinance for the regulation of single-use carryout plastic bags. San Juan County adopted Ordinance No. 10-2016 that will ban single-use plastic carryout bags within the unincorporated areas of the County. The Town is  Continue Reading

Here’s a 2016 recap sent in by San Juan County News… The holiday season is a good time to reflect on all that was accomplished on behalf of the citizens of San Juan County in 2016. The County Council conducted 65 meetings, including those held on Orcas, Lopez, Shaw and Waldron, passed 67 pieces of  Continue Reading

The 2016 and 2017 Holiday Refuse Schedules available on the Town website at this link. Mark your calendar for these holidays that will affect your refuse collection. For those holidays not listed, solid waste collection will take place as regularly scheduled. The Town reminds Customers that there will be no garbage/recycling pick-up on Monday, December  Continue Reading

Town of Friday Harbor Receives Clean Audit from State for 16th consecutive year. The Washington State Auditor’s Office has completed the review of Friday Harbor’s 2015 financial records and has given the Town a clean audit report. This is the 16th consecutive year the Town has received a clean audit. The State auditors conduct annual reviews of  Continue Reading

Mayor Carrie Lacher is pleased to announce the appointment of Gail Richard to the Friday Harbor Arts Commission (FHAC). Richard, a Heritage Interpretation trainer and retired educator, brings experience in working with visual art exhibits, shows, and galleries, as well as involvement with local performing arts including volunteering with the San Juan Community Theatre and  Continue Reading

SJC Councilman Bob Jarman was honored with a plaque of appreciation at his final meeting with the Town Council on December 15, 2016. Mayor Carrie Lacher presented the plaque and praised Jarman for his work on key issues affecting the Town. Lacher noted Jarman’s role in working to reduce the speed limit at county transition  Continue Reading

Two Orcas Island Ballot Measures Need Opponents Two local taxing districts have submitted resolutions to the San Juan County Auditor to place measures on the February 2017 ballot. The Orcas Island School District is proposing a general obligation bond in the amount of $8,000,000 for the purpose of renovating or replacing existing buildings and constructing  Continue Reading

Town accepting applications for open positions on Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. The Town of Friday Harbor is seeking individuals to fill two positions on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC). Committee members advise the Town Council on distribution of a portion of the funds received from the two percent Hotel Motel excise tax. Three-year terms  Continue Reading

Town of Friday Harbor utility customers have once again shown their holiday spirit by contributing to the Harbor Life Ring program to benefit the Friday Harbor Food Bank. The Town distributed a letter in the October utility billing statement informing customers that any donations they made in November would be contributed to the Food Bank.  Continue Reading

Tucker Avenue is now officially open… The ribbon cutting ceremony for Phase One happened yesterday and the plaque commemorating the event has been delivered for placement on the wall in the Town Council chamber. Withstanding the frigid temperature were (Left to Right and Front to back) Becki Day, SJI Chamber Executive Director; Pedro Mena, Capital  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 Office  Continue Reading

Tucker Avenue Phase One improvements complete – Ribbon cutting to take place Thursday December 8th The Mayor, council members and Town staff invite you to join them as they celebrate the official completion of the Tucker Avenue Phase One improvement project on Thursday, December 8 at 11:15 a.m. “We appreciate the community’s patience throughout this project,”  Continue Reading

Washington State residents with vehicle and vessel transactions due in December are urged to complete them by Friday, December 9. On Monday, December 12, the Washington State Department of Licensing will implement, statewide, a new state-of-the-art computer system for vehicle and vessel title and registration transactions. The new system will replace a 30-year-old, text-based system  Continue Reading

Heads up to island contractors – this is from the Coast Guard about upcoming improvements to Cattle Point Light… The Coast Guard is preparing to contract work to correct foundation deficiencies at the Cattle Point Light using our established Regional Multiple Award Construction Contractors including a number from Washington State. A pre-proposal information meeting and  Continue Reading

There will be a Free Tax Presentation sponsored by the Washington State Department of Revenue which is targeted to companies in the Building Trades. This event is scheduled for Friday December 9, 2016 from 9:00 to noon at the Islanders Bank Administration Building Community Room. Auditors from DOR will be discussing charging retail sales and use  Continue Reading