Happy Anniversary Chris and Ann! Announcement of 65th wedding anniversary of Chris and Ann Nelson of Friday Harbor, WA

Our first online auction is now open! So many items donated by the staff, board, and community supporters of wildlife. Please take some time to check out these wonderful items. You can use your phone and scan the QR code in the flyer at right or click on or copy this link  to check it  Continue Reading

Unvaccinated Caregivers With Qualifying Medical Exemptions Subject to Heightened Masking, Distancing, and Regular Testing Protocols August 3, 2021– VANCOUVER, Wash. – PeaceHealth announced that starting August 31, 2021, all caregivers will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit a qualifying medical exemption. Unvaccinated individuals will be subject to regular COVID-19 testing, as well  Continue Reading

Since Friday’s Weekly Case Update, San Juan County has confirmed four new positive COVID-19 cases. This brings the total number of cases in San Juan County to 201. Three of these new cases are on Orcas Island. San Juan County is currently investigating this case cluster to determine the source and scope of disease transmission.  Continue Reading

The San Juan County Auditor is seeking volunteers to write opposing arguments to ballot measures in the November 2021 General Election.  The arguments will be published in print and online versions of the Voters’ Pamphlet. Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District is proposing a tax levy of $.081201 cents per $1,000 assessed value to generate $105,000  Continue Reading

The San Juan Community Home Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda Eichelberger as their new Executive Director, effective August 2, 2021.  Eichelberger joins the Home Trust at a critical time as they launch their new development, HolliWalk, scheduled to break ground in early 2022.   Grant writing, advocacy and experience in the Affordable  Continue Reading

FUN for Everyone at the Electric Vehicle (EV) Jamboree! Test drive an EV, ride an electric bike, check out electric garden tools and an electric UTV! Free hot dogs and popcorn, great Island Way swag – and small kids can take the Island Way electric jeep for spin (with parental supervision). EV dealers will have  Continue Reading

Town of Friday Harbor Mayor, Farhad Ghatan, has sent a financial assistance package in support of the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center to the Town Council for their consideration at the August 5th council meeting. The Town recently received $357,589 as a first distribution from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The monies allocated  Continue Reading

The skilled nursing facility owned by Life Care Centers of America closed at the end of 2017. It had more than seventy beds and held the majority of the Medicaid patients in San Juan County. It left one assisted living facility on San Juan Island: the Village at the Harbor, a private pay institution with  Continue Reading

The first Harbor Seal pup of the year was brought to Wolf Hollow on June 24. She had been seen hanging around anchored boats near Sucia Island for 2 days, trying to suckle on boats and climb onto swim steps. San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network brought her to Wolf Hollow. Usually, the peak  Continue Reading

Vaccines Are Still The Best Protection Against Covid-19 We’re over a year and a half into this pandemic. We’ve learned a lot. We know how to keep people safe and now we have even better tools to do so. Being fully vaccinated remains the best protection. Healthcare providers and pharmacies on San Juan, Orcas, and  Continue Reading

Olympia – Are invasive species hiding in your trees? State officials ask you to check trees, lights, outdoor equipment and standing water in your yard for harmful bugs as part of National Tree Check Month in August. “August is the ideal time to look for invasive insects and report any species that seem out of  Continue Reading

The Town Planning Commission is seeking public comment through August 12, 2021 regarding proposed regulations for attached accessory dwelling units. Visit www.fridayharbor.org or Town Hall for agendas, meeting information and contact information to forward comments. On June 3, 2021, the Town Council adopted interim regulations allowing attached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the single-family residential  Continue Reading

From Open Country Press “Barefoot up the Mountain” by Tara Mesalik MacMahon, a resident of Friday Harbor, Washington is now available. Mesalik MacMahon’s manuscript was chosen by Khaty Xiong, an award-winning and innovative poet. Xiong says of the book, “Barefoot Up the Mountain is a book of songs anchored in family, war, loss and displacement.  Continue Reading

From San Juan County Since the last update on July 22, total cases in San Juan County have increased from 195 to 197. There are approximately 25 close contacts of positive cases currently in active quarantine in San Juan County. Some of these are close contacts of locally confirmed cases, others are close contacts of  Continue Reading

From NW Innovation Resource Center NW Innovation Resource Center is partnering with WA Maritime Blue and CleanTech Alliance to support a cohort of marine and environmentally friendly startups. Building upon the mindset of innovation in the area, the cohort members will have access to assistance from experts to explore the viability of their ideas and  Continue Reading

Hayley Day, San Juan Island Update Helicopters doused and extinguished a roughly 3 acre wildfire likely started by yardwork on San Juan Island Thursday. Since the incident, the county and National Park Service have declared local burn bans.  Fire No one was injured, but two small outbuildings were damaged by Thursday’s fire. Crews received a  Continue Reading

  By Pegi Groundwater, San Juan County SHIBA Volunteer Coordinator   Inter Island Healthcare Foundation is the new Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors sponsor for San Juan County as of July 1. Inter Island replaces SHIBA sponsor Island Hospital.   SHIBA is a public service offered by the Washington State Office of Insurance Commissioner. Volunteers  Continue Reading

From San Juan Community Theatre San Juan Community Theatre’s Outdoor Summer Season comes to a close with “San Juan Sings Again,” a concert featuring four local choral ensemble groups: Island Chordsmen Plus, Sound Vibrations, 3 Dads & a Tenor, and San Juan Singers.  This concert is organized and presented by the newly formed San Juan Island Choral Association, whose mission is to  Continue Reading

From the Town of Friday Harbor There is a growing number of people trespassing in the Trout Lake Watershed. The town of Friday Harbor will assist the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office in the identification and prosecution of these individuals. Cameras located throughout the watershed have taken photos of dozens of people walking through the  Continue Reading

From the Washington State Department of Health Safely returning to the classroom for fulltime in-person instruction this school year is important for students, teachers and staff. July 28, the Washington State Department of Health released updated guidance for the 2021-22 school year. DOH’s guidance aims to minimize transmission and maximize in-person instruction and is informed  Continue Reading

From San Juan Community Theatre Earlier in San Juan Community Theatre’s Summer Season, young thespians performed the musical ”Could You Hug A Cactus?”  Now it’s the older kids’ turn to show off their hard work. Kids ages 7-18 have been rehearsing daily to bring canine magic to the stage. With a high-spirited score, lovable characters and  Continue Reading