This is not an official announcement, but we hear from a reliable source that there will be food, educational exhibits, Concours d’Elegance cars and more at the airport on Saturday. The poster at right is official however. Just click to enlarge it. It’s always a fun event which is great for families…   If you  Continue Reading

Griffin Bay Bookstore & the San Juan Island Library Present author Jonathan White Jonathan White’s Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean won accolades when it first came out, garnering early praise from fellow writers Peter Matthiessen, Thor Hanson, Susan Casey, Gretel Ehrlich, and Carl Safina, among others. Since then he has gone on  Continue Reading

EDC invites entrepreneurs to participate in business plan competition, “Launch San Juan Islands” Entrepreneurs can bring their business ideas to the next level in the third annual EDC Launch San Juan Islands business plan competition, created by the San Juan County Economic Development Council and sponsored by local businesses. Participants will receive instruction in business  Continue Reading

San Juan County is exploring options to centralize government operations in an efficient and community-centered new Civic Campus building located near the courthouse in Friday Harbor. A design team has developed a concept that was informed by the first public survey in March 2018, as well as discussions with County staff who would be providing  Continue Reading

SJI Community Foundation Fair Matching Program Grants $56k to Nonprofits The San Juan Island Community Foundation once again featured 8 local nonprofit projects at this year’s San Juan County Fair as part of the 6th annual matching grant campaign. 139 donations were made by generous community members for a grand total of nearly $40,000 during  Continue Reading

In anticipation of the Conversation With Gee Bend exhibition at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) in Friday Harbor, WA two inventive women proposed two projects. Julie Weaver and Judy Okulitch brought their ideas to the Rainshadow Quilting Arts Guild (RQAG) for a trial run. They introduced making Gee’s Bend-inspired potholders for SJIMA  Continue Reading

This came in yesterday from Washington State Ferries… On August 22, the M/V Hyak was removed from service for urgent motor repairs. The M/V Chelan will replace the Hyak on domestic San Juan Islands routes beginning on August 23 through August 29. Please see below for information on cancelled sailings and added/modified sailings during this  Continue Reading

The Town of Friday Harbor has hired SFE Global to perform “smoke testing” of the sewer systems within your neighborhood beginning September 4, 2018 through September 6, 2018. The purpose of smoke testing is to identify areas of leaks and cross-connections where rainwater and other surface drainage may be entering the sanitary sewer system. The  Continue Reading

Yesterday’s Grand Opening of the new Center for Whale Research’s Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center was attended by a good sized crowd of about 25 – 30 people. Friday Harbor Mayor Farhad Ghatan, members of the SJI Chamber of Commerce and many CWR staff & volunteers attended as well. The Center is located next  Continue Reading

This year Friday Harbor High School students Ana Anderson and Mariah Daniher (class of 2018) were awarded first and second place, respectively, in the 37th annual Congressional Art Competition, sponsored by the Congressional Institute. It was the first time FHHS students have entered the competition. Ana’s piece Close Your Eyes and Fly Away was chosen  Continue Reading

Local photographer John Miller shares this photo… Hello SJ Update – I caught this fellow flying around the winery, in the gray! Fan powered motion! Nikon d500, f2, 200mm at f4 and 1/3000 sec. John

League of Women Voters hosts forum on affordable housing REET measure From noon-2 p.m., Monday, Sept. 10, at the San Juan Island Grange, the League of Women Voters of the San Juans is presenting a discussion on the affordable housing initiative that will be on the November ballot. The proposal would establish a real estate  Continue Reading

Application deadline September 5th for 2019 Town LTAC Grants The Town of Friday Harbor’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) is accepting 2019 grant applications until Wednesday, September 5th. LTAC grants will be awarded for tourism promotion of 2019 events and activities taking place within the town. Preference is given to those operations and activities that  Continue Reading

All of Orcas, Shaw, Blakely and some of Lopez island were without power for almost 10 hours after a car accident on Lopez took out a transmission pole at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 17th. Power was completely restored by 8:15 p.m. to Orcas, Shaw and Blakely and by 11:30 p.m. to all of Lopez.  Continue Reading

The San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) is offering a workshop to transform your art-and it is fun! This special workshop is for any one who wants to take advantage of the one of the hottest ways to show art today- no matter the medium, two-dimensional or three-dimensional art. Join Ray Pfortner on Sunday,  Continue Reading

San Juan County: A Burn Ban [began] Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at noon. Elevated temperatures for extended periods and our lack of precipitation has created a high fire danger in San Juan County, and across the region. San Juan County will be prohibiting all outdoor burning with the exception of propane barbecues. No outdoor fires  Continue Reading

Just a reminder, coming up on Sunday, it’s the Concours d’Élégance at San Juan Vineyards. Special Guest:  Rotarian Lee Harman with his 1938 Model A Ford Victoria “Miss Vicky”. They have entered the 10,000 mile race, Peking to Paris Endurance Motor Challenge, to bring awareness to End Polio Now eradication program. Here is the schedule  Continue Reading

Bill Severson with the SJI Trails Committee invites you to this hike next Saturday… Doug McCutchen with the Land Bank will lead us on a walk on Mount Grant.  Maybe he can show us progress on the trail system in the Mount Grant preserve.  Terrain is moderate mostly on road surfaces.  Dogs on leash are  Continue Reading

San Juan Island National Historical Park Issues Fire Restrictions Due to very dry conditions and increasing fire danger on San Juan Island, Superintendent Elexis Fredy has announced fire restrictions in San Juan Island National Historical Park. Beginning August 21, 2018, fire restrictions prohibit: Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire, charcoal grill, tiki  Continue Reading

The Center for Whale Research shares this announcement… We are excited to announce the official grand opening of the Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center. And you’re invited!  The grand opening will be held on Tuesday, August 21 at the education center which is located at 185 S. First Street in downtown Friday Harbor. A ribbon cutting  Continue Reading

Fellow Film Buffs, Here is a description of our next movie… Dark Money Tuesday August 21 7:30 pm Documentary 99 minutes Dark Money examines one of the greatest present threats to American democracy: the influence of untraceable corporate money on our elections and elected officials. The film takes viewers to Montana – a front line  Continue Reading

The SJC Democrats invite you to this event on Wednesday night… Please join us at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, August 22 at Brickworks in Friday Harbor to hear and participate in a discussion of recent developments in U.S. foreign, trade, and immigration policies in the Trump era, followed by Q&A. The discussion will be led  Continue Reading