• San Juan Island Fire & Rescue shares words of thanks and reflection in the aftermath of last week’s fire.
• The Farmers Market runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Here’s the list of who will be there.
• Medio Cafe will be open today from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and they’ll have free donuts and coffee. Medio is located inside Friday Harbor Suites, where Mi Casita used to be, at 680 Spring Street.
• Speaking of donuts — Coho is running a bakery pop-up tomorrow morning.
• Easter eggs with treats inside are hidden all around the Garden Center at Browne’s. They’re open today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• The garden at Island Studios, at 270 Spring Street, is open for the season. Check it out Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• San Juan Transfer Station will be open regular hours on Sunday — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship will hold three public meetings in the next four weeks as they work to develop their Sustainable Tourism Management Plan. When complete, that plan will outline a shared community vision, goals, and implementation measures to support a sustainable approach to tourism in the San Juan Islands.

All three meetings will be held over Zoom from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The first takes place on Thursday, April 28, and includes residents from all islands. The meetings on Tuesday, May 10 and Tuesday, May 17 relate to San Juan Island specifically. Advanced registration is required.

According to the County, public participation will help address concerns related to preserving natural resources and the rural lifestyle, maintaining and reimagining infrastructure, and supporting a year-round community and economy.

• Fire & Rescue, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Town of Friday Harbor announced yesterday afternoon that the cause of last Thursday’s fire was arson. They also disclosed that the fire started on the deck behind the building that housed Crystal Seas Kayaking.
• Washington State Ferries has postponed next week’s scheduled release of summer season vehicle reservations by at least a week. They’re finishing upgrades to the online reservation system and discussing minor adjustments to the San Juan Islands schedule with members of the Ferry Advisory Committee.
• The CDC’s mask order for public transportation, which includes the ferries, has been extended by 15 days. It will remain in effect until Tuesday, May 3.
• The Elegant Edibles bake sale, held in support of the San Juan Community Theatre, takes place at the Theatre on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
• Ever thought of starting your own sushi restaurant? Tops’l Seafood & Sushi has closed their doors, but the business is for sale. The assets include the kitchen equipment, furnishings, and point-of-sale system. Call 949-289-4144 to learn more.
• Hermosa is serving posole today and tomorrow — it has red chile pork topped with cabbage, chopped onions, cilantro, and cotija cheese.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

The San Juan Island Community Foundation has announced that scholarship applications are now being accepted for eligible San Juan Island 2022 graduating high school seniors. All applicants must plan to attend an accredited four-year college or university as full-time students in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Eligibility requirements vary depending upon the program. For details and application forms, visit the Community Foundation website. Completed applications and supporting materials must be received by the Foundation – either by email or postal mail – no later than Tuesday, May 3 at 5 p.m. Any materials received after the deadline will not be considered. Contact the Foundation at 360-378-1001 if you have questions.

If you are interested in setting up a scholarship fund or donating to an existing scholarship program, contact Executive Director Carrie Unpingco at 360-378-1001.

Merri Ann Simonson sends along an update about the state of the San Juan Island real estate market.

This seller’s market continues to be very strong. The first quarter results in San Juan County and on San Juan Island were as expected for a first quarter. Per the NWMLS, the dollar volume in San Juan County was $87,735,644 with a total of 88 transactions. The numbers reflect a 7 percent increase in dollar volume and a 34 percent decrease in the number of transactions as compared to the same period in 2021.

For San Juan Island the transaction volume was $36,984,387 with a total of 39 transactions. This was an 8.5 percent decrease in volume and a 40 percent decrease in number of transactions. Orcas Island’s volume is dictating the County numbers as San Juan isn’t contributing at the same level.

It is very clear in both the County and on San Juan Island that the prices have increased considerably and therefore fewer number of transactions can create volume greater than the same period in 2021 for the County and with a slight decrease for San Juan Island.

It is also very clear that the lack of inventory is hindering both volume and number of transactions. As of March 31, San Juan County had a total of 138 listings for all types of properties. The County had 41 pending and 97 active listings. This is a 36 percent decrease in total listings, a 50 percent decrease in pending listings and a 28 percent decrease in active listings

For San Juan Island, the decreases were 44 percent in the total inventory, 39 percent in pending and 50 percent in active listings. Continue Reading

Starr Excavation is looking for two people to assist with office duties and administrative work in either a part-time or full-time capacity. Learn more in the Island Jobs section of the San Juan Update.

• The Firefighters Association is hosting its annual Easter event this Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. The Easter Bunny will be in attendance, and there’s a stamp collecting challenge (with prizes) for kids that you can learn more about on the Fire Department’s website.
• After a snow-out on Tuesday, the high school baseball and fastpitch teams returned to the diamond on Wednesday with home games against Orcas Island. Baseball won 10-0 to improve to 9-1 on the season. Fastpitch won 17-7 to move to 5-3.
• The American Legion is hosting the 12th annual Bobby Boyce Memorial Scholarship fundraiser this Saturday at 5 p.m. There will be barbecued salmon and ribs to eat, followed by a raffle. They ask that you bring a dessert to share. Guests and members are both welcome — tickets are $30, and you can either buy them in person or by calling 360-378-5705.
• The San Juan Preservation Trust’s bluebird blitz — where volunteers count as many Western Bluebirds as they can in a two-hour period — takes place from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Friday. Register now, then meet at Red Mill Farm on Friday, and be sure to bring your binoculars.
• Miles Crossen and Thomas Ashcroft are looking for volunteers to help with the photography exhibition at this year’s County Fair. They need judges, people to receive and hang photos, and people to staff the booth for two- to four-hour shifts during the Fair. Email [email protected] if you’re interested.
• There’s only a week and a half left for high school seniors to apply for the San Juan Preservation Trust’s Climate Leadership Scholarships. This year SJPT will award two $4,000 scholarships to two graduating high school seniors from the San Juan Islands — $2,000 per year for each recipient’s first two years of higher education. The deadline to apply is Earth Day — Friday, April 22.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

The Senior Services Council of San Juan County shares news about their upcoming meeting.

The Board of Directors of the Senior Services Council of San Juan County will meet Thursday, April 21 at 1 p.m. over Zoom.

The Board will discuss future directions for the Council intended to improve services for seniors and people living with disabilities on the islands. As senior centers look toward resuming in-person activities including congregate meals and classes, it is an opportunity to adopt ways each center can conduct services that would serve each community better.

The full meeting agenda, Zoom link, and dial-in instructions are available on the Mullis Center website.

Island Rec sends along the details about the pet parade they’re hosting a week from Saturday.

Grab your favorite pet and join us for a community pet parade on Saturday, April 23 from 10 a.m to noon at the San Juan County Fairgrounds.

Well behaved pets of any kind can register to participate. Prizes will be given for best costume, best personality, and most unique! All are welcome to come and watch the fun. Pre-registration is required and the number of parade participants is limited to 30, but all are welcome to come and watch the fun.

The Economic Development Council of San Juan County shares news about information sessions being offered later this week for businesses affected by last week’s fire.

The EDC invites business owners and employees who have been displaced or negatively impacted by the April 7 fire in downtown Friday Harbor to an informational session featuring local banks, insurers, utilities, and workforce support providers.

A session for employees and employers takes place takes place Thursday, April 14 from 9 to 10 a.m. The Family Resource Center will provide information about rental assistance, other forms of financial assistance, and low-cost counseling services. Northwest Workforce Development will discuss how they can help with resume evaluation, job search assistance, and job skills training. The EDC will discuss filing for unemployment insurance and other options for employees.

A session for business owners takes place Friday, April 15 from 9 to 10 a.m. Local service providers will provide information on resources for insurance, workforce support, legal issues, financial services, and utilities.

To attend, please contact the EDC office at 360-378-2906 or email [email protected]. This event is open only to businesses affected by the April 7 fire in downtown Friday Harbor. Service providers are encouraged to contact the EDC office.

The Friday Harbor Power Squadron shares an update about the growth of their organization and a new education program that focuses on the unique challenges of boating in the San Juan Islands.

It is rare when a local organization from an island of only 7,000 residents can outperform similar groups from large cities like Seattle and Tacoma. The non-profit Friday Harbor Power Squadron, also known as America’s Boating Club of the San Juan Islands, has just become the largest, and fastest growing, boating education organization in the Pacific Northwest.

Not resting on its laurels, ABCSJI has announced a new series of seminars, webinars, workshops and on-the-water training programs aimed at helping local and visiting boaters confidently enjoy our local waters and marine environment. Whether you just got your boater’s card or are a long-term boater; whether you have a kayak, sailboat, fishing skiff, or cruiser; there will be some knowledge you can use to better appreciate and treasure our unique island environment.

Led by nationally recognized boating educator Ann Einboden and other island experts, all content in the program is focused our unique environment here in the San Juan Islands. The first session of the program, Cruising the San Juans (Part I), will be held on Monday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. as a Zoom webinar and subsequently available as a recording. Continue Reading

The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Commission will hold a regular meeting on Friday, April 15 at 8:30 a.m. Items up for discussion or action at Friday’s meeting include:

• General public comments
• Chair and Commissioners report
• County Council update – Christine Minney
• First quarter 2022 financial report
• Director’s report – Acquisitions update
• Stewardship report – Final review of draft agricultural policy
• Outreach and volunteer report – Upcoming community conversations
• Future agenda items

You can view the live stream of the meeting online.