Skagit Valley College’s Continuing and Community Education program (CCE) is pleased to announce new online workshops for Fall Quarter. CCE allows you to engage, connect, learn, and grow from the comfort of your home in short-term, non-credit courses. Visit the CCE Fall 2020 Course Catalog for more information. Courses are designed for people who would like to  Continue Reading

PUBLIC NOTICE: San Juan Island Fire and Rescue Surplus Vehicle Auction San Juan Island Fire and Rescue is offering a surplus vehicle for sale by a sealed bid process: 2008 Chevy Trailblazer 4X4, Gasoline Engine, White SUV 164,000 +/- miles. VIN: 1GNDT13S682221234 Minimum Bid on this vehicle is $4,200 Bids will be accepted starting September 21,  Continue Reading

Here’s some happy news from the Center for Whale Research… Updating our recent announcement concerning J35’s new calf, J57: we can confirm that it is male (see top photograph). This feisty young boy was seen last evening, September 22, near Point Roberts, Washington. He was photographed rolling, spyhopping, and swimming alongside his mother, who was  Continue Reading

After months of quarantined waiting, the Friday Harbor High School Thespians’ production of Little Shop of Horrors has heard back from their adjudication with the 5th Avenue Theatre for the High School Musical Theatre Awards. The awards show got cancelled this year due to the pandemic, also cancelling the actual nominations and awards ceremony. Nevertheless,  Continue Reading

After-school sailing club launches with 20 students, 4 new boats, thanks to generous donations Twenty students from San Juan, Lopez and Orcas Islands glory in the sun, the wind, and the sea on Griffin Bay twice a week with the Sailing Club at Jackson Beach. Because distancing occurs naturally between sailors in single-handed sailboats, this  Continue Reading

League of Women Voters hosts online General Election Candidate Forums The Leauge of Women Voters of the San Juans will host three nights of online forums for local candidates in the Nov. 3 General Election. From 5:30-7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 6, incumbent Rick Larsen will face his opponent Timothy Hazelo, who are both running for  Continue Reading

Spring Street International School would like to thank the San Juan Island Community Foundation for hosting, coordinating, and including us in the SJICF Fair Matching Grant Program. The Fair Matching Grant Program helped us raise $4,605 that went towards preparing our school to open up safely this fall and provide our students with an innovative  Continue Reading

The timing couldn’t be more perfect: This Saturday, September 26, 2020, on National Public Lands Day, Zylstra Lake Preserve officially opens for day-use public access. National Public Lands Day embodies the same values that inspired your Conservation Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust to form a public-private partnership in 2015 to preserve the  Continue Reading

Until Public Health regulations allow for audiences to enter theatres again, SJCT is going all-digital with some exciting new programming that will be filmed and distributed FOR FREE. Films will be available on our website, at www.sjctheatre.org. Week of October 5: Melodious Notes Over the Harbor Week of October 26: Desolation Sound Week of November 2: Emily Anton from The Ballet  Continue Reading

The San Juan County Land Bank is offering a once-a-year opportunity to purchase locally grown wildflowers native to San Juan County. Reserve your plants online September 18 – 27, and pick them up on Saturday, October 3 at locations on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan islands. All plants are produced locally by the Salish Seeds  Continue Reading

San Juan Island Library announces that renowned regional author Clare Hodgson Meeker will host a Zoom talk on Friday, October 2, at 7:00 p.m. Meeker’s latest book, Growing Up Gorilla: How a Zoo Baby Brought Her Family Together, is a 2020 Washington State Book Award Finalist for Young Readers. Meeker will discuss writing Growing Up  Continue Reading

$12,000 given in scholarships Island Artisans is a local non-profit organization whose goal is to raise funds in support of young artists within our community. We have served San Juan County for approximately 40 years by granting scholarships to graduating students and supporting practicing artists. Island Artisans Holiday Market, our primary fundraiser, has always been  Continue Reading

As of Sunday, September 20th, the Burn Ban in San Juan County is lifted. Please be safe when enjoying recreational campfires. A reminder that campfires are limited to 3’x3’ in size and are for burning only clean split firewood.  Permitted residential burning is scheduled to reopen on October 5th. Weather permitting.  https://www.sanjuanco.com/1096/Open-Burn-Info  Please follow the  Continue Reading

San Juan Islands Community Network (SJICN) launches online solutions news channel spotlighting island community members and organizations building a more resilient and thriving San Juans On Monday, September 21, San Juan Islands Community Network (SJICN) launched to the public, publishing its website and initial video news stories created to inform and engage islanders around the  Continue Reading

Town of Friday Harbor 2021 Lodging Tax (LTAC) Grant applications will be accepted up until 4:30 p.m. Monday, September 28th. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis for funding tourism promotion of events and activities taking place within the town in 2021. Preference will be given to those operations and activities that encourage tourists  Continue Reading

Resource Allocation to Growth and Structure: The Energetic Cost of Mussel Byssal Thread Attachment, by Molly Roberts Dr. Molly Roberts completed her PhD with Dr. Emily Carrington in 2019 in the Biology Department at UW. Her research involved both experimental work at FHL and fieldwork at Penn Cove Shellfish in Coupeville, WA. Prior to her  Continue Reading

Now’s the time if you haven’t been counted yet in the 2020 Census. Click here to see what options you have. About the 2020 Census The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The 2020 Census counts everyone who lives in the U.S. on April 1, 2020. Census statistics help determine  Continue Reading

Small businesses are relying more than ever on your support as they creatively cope with COVID.  Here’s the second of a series of stories about their survival. When COVID-19 became a global pandemic in March, all of us were suddenly navigating uncharted waters. However, San Juan Islands businesses have responded with compassion and ingenuity during these tough times.  Continue Reading

Island Rec has 2 Great LEGO camp options for you this season! The first, tap into your imagination from the comfort of your own home with the guidance of an experienced Play-Well instructor and simple pieces from your own LEGO collection – all while connecting virtually with other young LEGO engineers. Students will explore their  Continue Reading

Special Deliveries: On One Morning, San Juan Island Fire & Rescue Joins Partner Agencies With Two Baby Deliveries This time, it wasn’t the stork who made the middle of the night call to assist two pregnant mothers. Just before 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 13, pagers beeped throughout San Juan Island announcing an urgent need  Continue Reading

OPALCO is Prepared for Wildfire Prevention – Are You? Safety is the primary objective at the core of everything OPALCO does. OPALCO continues to use an aggressive Right-of-Way Program (tree and brush trimming along power lines) and the latest technologies to reduce flammable material and mitigate fire risk. The long-term investment is key to the  Continue Reading

Loretta (Laurie) Irene Wangenheim-Brown from Friday Harbor Washington passed away on September 6, 2020. Laurie was born on February 11, 1942 and was immediately adopted by Bob and Helen Jones. Growing up surrounded by a loving family and all kinds of farm animals in Riverside Washington began a life-long love of nature and exploring. Laurie  Continue Reading