Staring at that thick manuscript on your writing desk, wondering what’s the next step? Here’s an opportunity for you.

The San Juan Island Library will be hosting a “Publishing Workshop” on Saturday, May 19th, from 1-4 pm, in the Community Meeting Room. A panel of experts, moderated by Alice Acheson, book marketing/publishing consultant, will discuss the ins and outs of publishing.

Mary Kalbert, a self-published author of both fiction and nonfiction, will relate her experiences of getting into print. Author and developmental editor Janet Thomas will discuss the vital importance of editing in the publishing process. Then Griffin Bay Bookstore owner Laura Norris and events coordinator Nancy Larsen will explain the best ways to market your published book through a bookstore.

This workshop will offer an overview of “The Business of Writing” as well as insights into key elements of the publishing process (self-published or via a mainstream publisher).

Saturday, May 19th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm in the San Juan Island Library Meeting Room.

Gail Schnee, San Juan Island Chamber Board President & Co-Owner of Cotton Cotton Cotton and Becki Day, Executive Director of the Chamber, share this month’s edition of Chamber Chat…

Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday, May 13, so save the trip off island to the mall and shop local this year for a unique present to show mom just how thoughtful you are! You can find the perfect give right here in Friday Harbor.

From gardening items to clothes, chocolate, jewelry, flowers, plants, housewares and books, you can find it all at one of the many shops around town. You can also give the gift of adventure by giving Mom a gift certificate for whale watching, kayaking, bike rentals or zip lining!

Does she need to relax? How about some wine or a massage? We also have many beautiful art galleries to choose from or a gift certificate for a favorite restaurant, so she won’t have to cook. The possibilities are endless and any of the business owners would be happy to help you, offer advice and find the perfect gift for the perfect Mom in your life! Click on http://sanjuanisland.org/member-directory to see a list of all our great Chamber members. Continue Reading

Public Open House To Consider Future Of Library Building

The San Juan Island Library will hold a series of public open houses to present the findings of a recent architectural review of the state of its facilities, and possible future options for the Library building.

Staff from SHKS Architects conducted the review, and will be in attendance to present their findings, in addition to members of the Library’s board of trustees and staff. Each open house will feature a short presentation on the current status of the building, and the challenges and opportunities that the structure will encounter in the face of a growing island community and a world of rapidly changing library services.

After the presentation, the public will be able to visit information stations around the room where more detailed information will be available, including urgent problems that will most likely need to be addressed in the near term, and some of the services that could be provided if space were available. The public is invited to attend, and, especially, to give input on future directions.

There will be three open houses, all at the San Juan Island Grange Hall: Continue Reading

Verna is this week’s Pet of the Week – Contributed photo

…And I pray, please lead me not into temptation…. oh heck, just follow me. I know a really good short cut.

My name is Verna and I’m not going to lie. I’m naughty. Sometimes I can’t resist digging the tiniest amount of dirt in the play yard and I have been known to peruse the contents of the office trash can here at the animal shelter.

You know what they say: “Well-bahaved women rarely make history”.

Come and meet me! We can make history together!

Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor
111 Shelter Road
(360) 378-2158

Coming up later this week, the first show of the year opens at WaterWorks Gallery:
Joan Stuart Ross – Pigmented Beeswax on Wood
David French – Mixed media on Carved Wood
May 11th – June 8th, 2018

Joan Stuart Ross and David French share an affinity for not only bright colors, but also for texture and story.

Winner of Seattle Art Museum’s Betty Bowen award, Ross presents her multi-layered encaustics.

French’s organic sculptures are on the verge of being familiar—an almost sea urchin or a mushroom.

Reception for the artists in attendance: Friday, May 11, 4-7 P.M.
Artist Walk Through show with Joan & David on Saturday, May 12, 11-1 P.M.

Janet Oakley has long ties to San Juan Island and on this return trip, she will be presenting her latest novel, Mist-Chi-Mas: A Novel of Captivity, at the San Juan Island Library, Wednesday, May 16, 7:00 pm.

Griffin Bay Bookstore and the Library encourage you to come out for her book talk about the novel and her love affair with both English Camp and American Camp, and their unique histories, told with imagination and flair. If you attended her book talk about Tree Soldier several years ago, you’ll surely want to come learn about Mist-Chi-Mas.

Janet describes what led her to write this novel: “I’ve always wanted to write about Hawaiians in the Pacific Northwest. This novel seemed to be one way to do it, but it all began after I was asked to write a Pig War curriculum for the San Juan Island National Historical Park so many years ago. That undertaking led to my decades-long love of English Camp and American Camp, their histories, and beautiful San Juan Island. Hawaiians or Kanakas, as they were called in that time, are part of that history. Mist-chi-mas is about the amazing story of the peaceful resolution of the dispute over the international water boundary between Washington Territory and British Columbia and the cultures and people of the Salish Sea.” Continue Reading

Following a public hearing on April 24, 2018, San Juan County officially released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to purchase .8083 acres of land situated in Lopez Village for the development of affordable housing rental units. San Juan County seeks an experienced developer(s) to purchase a parcel located on Fisherman Bay Road in Lopez Village.

The County wishes to offer this site for a direct-sale at fair market price to be developed to maximum allowable density for long-term affordable housing rental units, with restrictions to ensure affordability requirements are maintained for 99 years. An appraisal of the property is currently being completed, and will be available to interested applicants at a later date. Continue Reading

If you have ever wanted to be an elected official, now is your chance.  Candidate filing for positions open for election in 2018 is about to begin.

During filing week, candidates may submit their filings online, by email, by fax, or in person at the San Juan County Elections Office at 55 Second Street Ste. A, Friday Harbor.

Online candidate filing will be available Monday, May 14 at 9 a.m. through Friday, May 18 at 4 p.m. In person, emailed and faxed filings will be accepted Monday, May 14 at 8 a.m. through Friday, May 18 at 4:30 p.m.

Mail-in filings will be accepted no earlier than Monday, April 30 and will be processed on May 14. Mailed filings will be accepted if they are received at the Elections Office no later than Friday, May 14. If filing by mail, forms should be mailed to San Juan County Auditor, Elections Office, PO Box 638, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

Candidates should consider filing online. Candidates who file online will receive not only confirmation of their filing, but also updates when other candidates file for that office. Candidates can file from home on their personal computers, or may file on a computer at the Elections Office. To file online, go to the Elections webpage at www.sanjuanco.com/elections and navigate to “Candidate Filing Online” under “Candidate Information.” Candidates filing for Federal or State offices will file with the Secretary of State. Continue Reading

Adult competitors at the Hill of Thrills race – Contributed photo

Island Rec is very excited to announce the third running of the now famous Hill of Thrills Soap Box Race on Sunday, May 20th. 

This is a classic old-fashioned ‘gravity’ race where people run their homemade non-motorized contraptions down Grover Street by the elementary school. The racing categories are ages 5-8, 9-12, 13-15, 16-adult. There are as many adult contestants as youth!

This popular event is quickly becoming a local classic not to be missed. Races go from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Race packets and applications can be found online or at the Island Rec office, 580 Guard St. Monday – Friday 11:00-5:00 pm, (360) 378-4953.

The Wharfside BnB at Friday Harbor Marina – Contributed photo

Laura and Eric Concord, Owner/Operators of Wharfside Bed (Boat) and Breakfast are proud to announce that Wharfside has been voted Best of the Northwest Escapes BnB’s by viewers of King 5 TV Evening Magazine. 

The Wharfside will be featured in Evening’s Reveal Week, May 7-11.  They are scheduled to air on Tuesday, May 8th at 7:30.  You can connect with them at thewharfside.com., (360)378-5661, [email protected].

Formal garden, parade ground and blockhouse at English Camp – Tim Dustrude photo

Peek into San Juan Islands History: First Nations, Farmers, and Fruit

“History Lives Here” brings island stories to life in May

The history of the San Juan Islands shaped Washington – literally. If history had taken a slightly different turn during the “Pig War” standoff from 1859 – 1872, we’d be writing this missive from Canada, not the United States. Discover this and other colorful stories during History Lives Here – National Historic Preservation Month (www.visitsanjuans.com/history-lives-here) in the San Juan Islands.

Did you know the San Juans were once the fruit basket of the Northwest? Photos of Eastsound, a new exhibit at the Orcas Island Historical Museum, marks over 120 years of change in the life and spirit of the village of Eastsound. The exhibit traces the dramatic evolution from an expanse of orchards in the 1890’s to the commercial center of Orcas Island today. Visitors will have a chance to see the people, culture, and places that have made Eastsound a vibrant community in which to live, work, and visit.

In a fascinating talk, May 9, 7:30 pm at San Juan Island Library, ecologist Russel Barsh describes the world system that evolved in North America as it parallels the history of Greco-Roman Europe. His talk will also place contemporary Indigenous peoples in the context of a thousand years of struggle and change. Continue Reading

Sandy Strehlou is looking for some help on the HPRB. Here she is with more…

The Town of Friday Harbor has a vacant position on the

Click to enlarge

(HPRB), and at this time I am throwing out a wide net in the hopes of finding a good person to fill the position.

Anyone living on San Juan Island is eligible to apply, the main requirement is that candidates have an interest in historic preservation, local history and public service. Attached are documents that provide information about the Board. If you or someone you know are interested, please give me a call at (360) 622-2037.

About-the-HPRB (PDF)

Thank you,

Sandy Strehlou
Historic Preservation Coordinator
Town of Friday Harbor

Here’s a note from Tracy James at Eagle Home Mortgage…

Eagle Home Mortgage has a new home!  We have moved from the interior of Sundries Court (the former Geri’s Mall) to a 1910 Sears Roebuck & Co catalog house at 555 Spring Street next to Uptown Coffee.

As a subsidiary of the largest home builder in the US, Lennar Homes, we are uniquely positioned to provide you with the most complete portfolio of loan products available for your home financing needs.  These include VA, FHA, Jumbo, USDA, zero down WSHFC Bond loans and conventional loans for purchase and refinance.

Stop by during business hours or call to chat with Tracy James, an experienced loan originator since 1995, and set up a weekend and evening appointment. Find your way home from OUR home!

Jason Heiner, M.D. – contributed photo

Jason Heiner, MD, an emergency department (ED) provider at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center, has written a chapter in the ninth edition of Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, a core textbook for emergency medicine residents and practitioners.

Dr. Heiner’s published chapter is titled “The combative and difficult patient” (*full citation below).

“The key objective was to equip emergency physicians with tools to safely and effectively navigate the complex clinical situations that often arise when caring for combative and difficult patients in the emergency department,” Dr. Heiner said. He explained that it’s an updated and expanded version of a similar topic that he covered in the preceding eighth edition of the textbook, which was published in 2013. 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 at: (360) 378-2898 [email protected]

The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the theme for the 2018 4th of July Parade in Friday Harbor: “Music of America”, celebrating our music through the decades.

The event has been rated one of the top 10 small town 4th of July celebrations in the USA. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4th. A full day of music, food and entertainment will culminate with a glorious fireworks extravaganza over the scenic Port of Friday Harbor.

We encourage all of those interested to gather your creative crew and begin plans on your costumes, floats and themed entries. Prizes will be awarded for the following categories-Best Use of Theme Float, Best Use of Theme Non-Float, Best Use of Theme- Children/Youth, Best Costume Group, Best Animal/Animal Group, Judges Choice, Best Off-Island Entry, and Best Vehicle.

To participate in the 2018 Friday Harbor Independence Day Parade, please email: [email protected] for an application or download it at www.sanjuanisland.org