Open Country Press is proud to announce the winner of the 2020 Open Country Chapbook Contest. Khaty Xiong chose Barefoot Up the Mountain by Tara Mesalik MacMahon of Friday Harbor, Washington. Tara Mesalik MacMahon, a graduate of Pomona College and Harvard Business School, is an emerging poet. Her poems appear or are forthcoming in Rhino,  Continue Reading

San Juan Island writer, artist and translator, Ian Boyden, releases his new book, A Forest of Names, today (September, 8). Published by the prestigious Wesleyan University Press, the book is available through local bookstores and online. The genesis of the book began in 2016, when Boyden curated the exhibition Ai Weiwei: Fault Line at the  Continue Reading

This Labor Day while you enjoy a socially distant backyard BBQ, beach picnic with family or some peaceful solitude, please take a moment to give a special thanks to the essential workers of our community who have kept us safe, healthy, fed, informed, and transported here and there throughout these trying times.  THANK YOU!

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: Board and Committee Vacancies. Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory committee should fill out an Advisory Committee Application or  Continue Reading

SJI Historical Museum is back with their History Column for September… September is traditionally when we devote the history column to something related to “back to school days.” We have featured students, schoolhouses, and teachers of many different eras. Since this is such an unusual year for all our students and teachers, we thought it appropriate  Continue Reading

Friends of the San Juans (Friends) is pleased to welcome R. Brent Lyles as incoming Executive Director. He will begin his tenure on September 16 and will lead the 40-year-old organization in its longstanding mission — to protect and restore the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea for people and nature. Brent comes to  Continue Reading

One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow has been selected as a finalist for the Washington State Book Awards in the Fiction category. Blackbird was written by San Juan Island author Libbie Grant, who writes under the pen name Olivia Hawker. The Washington State Book Awards, now in their 54th year, honor works of outstanding literary merit by  Continue Reading

Have you answered the 2020 Census yet? Census workers will be available to help you answer the census: Dates: Wednesday August 19 & August 26 Time: 11AM – 2PM Location: Friday Harbor Food Bank, 500 Market St. Can’t stop by? You can also self-respond Online at www.2020census.gov Call toll-free 844-330-2020 (English) or 844-468-2020 (Spanish) Return  Continue Reading

We are pleased to announce that Jesse Nye, DO, has joined PeaceHealth Medical Group Friday Harbor in the Family Medicine clinic. He is an experienced physician who will provide comprehensive acute, chronic and preventive medical care services for his patients. Nye grew up in Washington state and graduated from Central Washington University (CWU) in Ellensburg  Continue Reading

Mary Frances Smith, longtime resident of Friday Harbor, passed away on July 21, 2020 at the age of 92 in Seattle, Washington. She was preceded in death by her husband Vincent “Smitty”, sister Jean Kink, and brother Tom Meehan. She is survived by her brother Joe Meehan, daughter Jean (Michael) Rogers, sons Paul (Carolyn) and  Continue Reading

A new flag is flying over the Mullis Center. The flag is a gift to the Mullis Center from the family of Margret Lackey in honor of their mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Not only has the Lackey family provided the Mullis Center with a new flag, they also generously oversaw long needed repairs to the  Continue Reading

I know very little about Fire District Commissioner Frank Cardinale, but last afternoon during our first joint meeting with the Fire District to discuss integration, Commissioner Cardinale showed me everything I need to know about him. He is disrespectful, attacking, accusatory, aggressive, and clearly not interested in getting to know our new hospital district board or being remotely collaborative.  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

Waterworks new show, Art AiSLE, features acrylic on panel paintings by Kalindi Kunis. Join us wearing your mask for a socially distanced opening on Thursday, July 30, 4:00 – 7:00 pm. The show will continue 07/30 – 09/30   Waterworks Gallery is proud to present Kalindi Kunis’s newest body of work created especially for this show. These acrylic  Continue Reading

A note from Scott Sluis and the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce… I, well we (The SJ Chamber of Commerce), want to say a sincere thank you and also congratulations to Susan Doyle and her husband Michael from Susie’s Mopeds, as of July 1, 2020 the business has been sold and Susie and Michael will start  Continue Reading

We hear from Diane Martindale at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art… Don’t miss our first virtual Artist Talk on Sunday, August 9, 11:00 am featuring Holly Ballard Martz (DOMESTIC BLISS) and June Sekiguchi (THE PULSE OF WATER).   Holly and June will be walking you through their exhibitions and answering questions from virtual participants!  Continue Reading