San Juan County’s Preliminary Budget for 2019 has been published. With a theme of “Finish What We’ve Started,” the 2019 budget focuses resources on projects and initiatives already underway within the County. The County has enjoyed several years of remarkable growth in sales, lodging and real estate excise taxes, growth that has allowed the County  Continue Reading

San Juan County Treasurer, Rhonda Pederson would like to remind county property owners that the second installment of property taxes and personal property taxes are due October 31st.  Please note that even if you deposit the envelope with your local post office, it may not be postmarked on the same day.  Plan ahead and mail  Continue Reading

  Northwest artist Gareth Curtiss has been selected by the Town of Friday Harbor to complete a life-size bronze sculpture of town founding father Captain Edward D. Warbass. The piece will include Mr. Warbass sitting on a park bench with his dog, Bob, by his side.   The artwork is scheduled for installation on the sidewalk  Continue Reading

Tamara Weaver writes about St. Francis’ Blessing of the Animals… On October 4, people all over the world celebrated the feast day of the Patron Saint of Animals, Saint Francis of Assisi. It’s customary that in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures, animals are led to churches for a special ceremony  Continue Reading

Friends of the San Juan Island Library cordially invite you to “A Very British Evening: Jane Austen Meets the Royal Navy”. Please join Heidi Green, a lifetime member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. This event sponsored by the Friends of the SJI Library is in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the  Continue Reading

Name: Farrah Status: Single. Haven’t found my soulmate. Yet. Sign: Aries. Virgo rising. Likes: Hip Hop, Chinese food, BBC World Radio, belly rubs, chardonnay Dislikes: Plastic wine glasses, opinions that differ from mine, Tibetan throat singing, beady eyes What Intrigues Me: Dogs eating peanut butter, flatulence, I Love Lucy re-runs Favorite Movie: The Swamp Thing  Continue Reading

The next Department of Community Development (DCD) community workshop will be held on October 18th from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at the fire station at 1011 Mullis Street in Friday Harbor to gather community input on the Comprehensive Plan update.  The public is invited to provide input on policy issues that will guide the County  Continue Reading

  Messy Me returns this year with even more sense-engaging fun! We’ll play around in the elementary school gym with different ‘sensory bins’ filled with mediums such as water and sand while searching for dinosaur molds and model fish. Painting with marbles will be a new, exciting activity this time around, as well as balloons  Continue Reading

In the SJ Update mailbag we have this letter from Bill Appel… This will have been a hotly contested election. There have been allegations of errors, omissions and behavior, some of which but for the public stature of the targets, might arguably be libelous, and in the time-honored tradition of one corner of our community,  Continue Reading

It’s coming next weekend: Amy Carroll, well known caller from Seattle, will be our caller, with music provided by “Forrest Carroll and Friends” – Forrest Carroll on fiddle, Frank Blade on guitar, and Jerry Gallagher on banjo, all popular musicians from Seattle. What: 3rd. Saturday contra dance in Friday Harbor Where: San Juan Grange Hall  Continue Reading

Save the Date! On November 3, between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Friday Harbor Chocolates.  The holidays are fast approaching, and you may already be thinking about creating your holiday menus for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.  With that in mind, the renown San Juan Island master baker, Felicity Milne of Cakes by Felicitations will  Continue Reading

It’s that time of year! The San Juan Public Schools Foundation will hold its annual Phone-A-Thon on Tuesday, October 16th, and Wednesday October 17th, from 5 to 8:00 pm. During this time, volunteer students, parents, faculty and members of the community will be calling to ask for your support. The Foundation is a group of volunteer  Continue Reading

The following is a guest post from Neil Stawski with Climate Wise… There are nearly 7 billion humans on the planet, with more being born every day. And each person comes with their own ecological footprint. When you add up the ecological footprints of 7 billion people, you begin to understand the enormous environmental effect  Continue Reading

We’re doing something a little different this month with our Art for Fun art pARTy… we’re painting on a tote bag! Participants will paint their own personalized market or supply bag. This could make a great gift! Art for Fun is a two hour, fun-filled art party set in a relaxed, interactive atmosphere. It is  Continue Reading

It’s just one week until the 2018 Great Washington Shakeout earthquake drill on October 18th. You can join the growing number of islanders who are preparing for “the big one” by signing up online. It’s quick and easy to do at: http://shakeout.org/washington So far, more than 700 people in the islands are involved. This includes  Continue Reading

Third quarter real estate report from Merri Ann Simonson at Coldwell Banker… The third quarter results for San Juan Island and the County were consistent with the first and second quarter results.   Per the NWMLS, the dollar volume year-to-date on San Juan Island was $99,156,746 with a total of 181 transactions. This reflects a 12.5%  Continue Reading

After being on the road for two straight weeks the Friday Harbor Wolverines get to stay home tonight to take on the LaConner Braves at 6:30.  Both teams are 0-1 having lost to the Concrete Lions. Friday Harbor faces a familiar foe in the Braves from La Conner consisting of mainly sophomores and all starters  Continue Reading

San Juan County Health & Community Services Issues Varicella Health Alert A case of varicella, or “chicken pox,” has been confirmed in a school-aged child in the Lopez Island community. San Juan County Health & Community Services has alerted medical providers, and is working closely with the Lopez School District, preschools and families to investigate  Continue Reading

Tamara Weaver shares this with you… Thanks to the community’s generous contributions, Debbie Dardanelli, Susan Waters and Francie Hansen are on their way to Nairobi, Africa, bringing with them the cutest clothes to give to orphans in need. Then, they’ll be off to volunteer with an elephant welfare organization! Good Luck ladies!

From Shona Aitken at Wolf Hollow… When someone mentions visitors to the islands, most of us immediately think of crowds of people streaming off the ferries in the middle of summer. But there are also wild creatures that are only here part time. Ospreys, Turkey Vultures, swallows and many hummingbirds and warblers spend the summer  Continue Reading

  The San Juan County Master Gardeners are pleased to welcome Craig Cogger, WSU Soil Scientist Emeritus, and Everett Chu, Owner of Azusa Farm and Gardens LLC, Certified Professional Horticulturist and Landscape Designer, to the Annual Gardening Workshop. Dr. Cogger will discuss “Assessing and Amending Your Garden Soil,” with guidelines for testing, fertilization and organic  Continue Reading

School’s out early this Friday! SO grab your pals and come explore rigs of all shapes and sizes. Join Island Rec at FHES Playground for Touch a Truck. 11am-1pm this Friday Oct 12th. Kiwanis will be there in their K-Boose providing free hot dogs. Don’t miss out on the raffle to win a ride to  Continue Reading