Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor has opted to cancel its in-person St. Patrick’s Day dinner and auction because of concerns about rising COVID cases on San Juan Island. This is the third straight year that the event has been cancelled.

The St. Patrick’s Day dinner is the primary way the organization raises funds for its programs, which include educational awards and scholarships, the Cancer Treatment Transportation Fund, the Women’s Emergency Fund, and the Food Security program.

To help offset the lost income from the event, an unnamed couple has pledged to grant the organization $5,000 if they can reach their original $5,000 fundraising goal. As of Feb. 9, the Soroptimists are about a quarter of the way there, having raised just over $1,100.

The matching grant deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 15. Donations are accepted online.

According to preliminary results released by the San Juan County Elections Office at 8 p.m. on Feb. 8, both levies put before the voters of San Juan Island in today’s special election are expected to pass.

San Juan County Public Hospital District Proposition 1, a six-year emergency medical services property tax levy renewal, has received 64.66 percent yes votes to 35.34 percent no votes.

San Juan Island School District Proposition 1, a replacement educational programs and operational levy renewal, stands at 70.02 percent yes votes to 29.98 percent no votes.

The 2,997 ballots counted as of 8 p.m. represent a 42.61 percent voter turnout rate — although that figure may change as ballots postmarked today are received and counted later this week. The County estimates there are 500 ballots left to count.

The Elections Office will periodically update the results as additional ballots are processed. Election certification occurs 10 days from today, on Feb. 18.

An additional 3,000 free at-home COVID tests kit are being made available to the community by San Juan County Health and Community Services. Distribution on San Juan Island will take place at the Mullis Center on Thursday, Feb. 10, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The County distributed 5,000 free tests in the islands last week.

Each household can request one test kit per member over age three, with a limit of four kits per family. Business owners can pick up one kit per employee, with a limit of ten kits per business. The County asks that Islanders who picked up free tests last week allow other residents the chance to obtain these newly available kits.

The test kits must be used prior to their July 17, 2022 expiration date.

After closing for more than a month to repair water damage suffered during December’s extreme cold weather, Cask & Schooner is set to re-open with limited hours starting this Thursday, Feb. 10 at 4 p.m.

“It certainly has been challenging,” says manager BooBoo James. “After the incredible freeze we had a lot of flooding because of burst pipes — and then we had to find the leaks!”

Once the Cask & Schooner team solved the tough task of finding a plumber to repair the building’s pipes, they had to deal with extensive electrical system damage in the restaurant’s kitchen and dining areas. Those problems also affected the kitchen’s order-tracking system. And typical of busted water pipes, the repair work wasn’t complete without some drywall replacement.

Cask & Schooner will maintain a limited schedule due to staffing issues. They’ll be open Thursday for dinner, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., as well as Friday through Monday for both lunch and dinner, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“We are a little short staffed,” BooBoo says. “But we will do our best to rise to the occasion. We appreciate and are thankful for all the support from our community.”

Islanders are set to decide the fate of two property tax levies as mail-in voting for the Feb. 8 special election concludes tonight at 8 p.m.

San Juan County Public Hospital District Proposition 1, a six-year emergency medical services property tax levy renewal, would increase the existing levy rate to $0.45 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation for the next six years. The Update has published letters to the editor in support of this levy and in opposition to this levy.

San Juan Island School District Proposition 1, a replacement educational programs and operational levy renewal, would increase the existing levy rate to $0.6770 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation in 2023. The rate would rise to $0.7251 in 2024, $0.7766 in 2025, and $0.8317 in 2026. The Update has also published letters to the editor with statements regarding this levy.

Continue Reading

On Friday, Feb. 18, the County Planning Commission will formally issue their findings and conclusions on a proposed cap on the number of vacation rentals and accessory dwelling units allowed in San Juan County.

At a public meeting on Oct. 15, the commission recommended that the County Council adopt an ordinance that would limit the number of permits issued for vacation rentals and ADUs for the next five years. However, the commission did not formally issue their findings and conclusions at that meeting. County staff and the prosecuting attorney’s office determined that findings and conclusions must be issued at a public hearing alongside a recommendation before the Council can be formally briefed on the matter. Continue Reading

At first glance, the description of the open Statistical Analyst job for San Juan County seems unremarkable.

Based out of the Assessor’s office, the position generates data-driven valuations for residential and commercial real estate. It uses approaches such as sales studies, neighborhood analysis, and regression analysis to help the Assessor recommend appropriate changes to assessed property values. Continue Reading

The Town of Friday Harbor is looking for two volunteers to join its Arts Commission. According to the Town:

Commissioners are unpaid volunteers who represent the interests of the Town, community, and local artists in advising the Town Council on the cultivation, selection, acquisition, and placement of public art.

One position is to be filled immediately with a term expiration of December 2024.  The second position provides an opportunity for a 16- to 19-year-old youth to experience public service and influence the Town’s artistic direction as well as strengthen their college credentials.

The Commission meets the second Tuesday of each month.

The Town hopes to find volunteers with experience related to visual, performing, or literary arts. To apply, review the Arts Commission guidelines and complete the application form.

The Friday Harbor Port Commission will hold a regular meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 12 p.m. Items up for discussion at Wednesday’s meeting include:

• Executive Director participation on the Islands’ Oil Spill Association Board
• Port representation on the County’s Climate and Sustainability Advisory Committee
• Establishing a standing citizen advisory committee
• Strategic plan commissioner workshop

You can view the live stream of the meeting online via Zoom or attend in person at the San Juan Island Yacht Club.

The live stream of the meeting operates in listen-only mode; comments are not accepted in real time unless you attend in person. To submit a comment for presentation to the Commission, you must send a message to [email protected] — with the subject line “Public comment” — at least 24 hours before the meeting.

San Juan Island’s 30th annual Children’s Festival will take place this year on Saturday, May 7 at the County Fairgrounds. Organized by Island Rec, this year’s festival theme is Making Waves — and they’re inviting island kids of all ages to submit a poster design based on that theme:

What does living near the ocean mean to you? What do you love about it? Why is it important to our community? How are you making waves in your own life? We are looking forward to seeing how you include Making Waves into your artwork.

Posters must be submitted on an official entry form, available at the San Juan Island Library, Friday Harbor Elementary, or outside the Island Rec office at 580 Guard St. Submissions need to be received at the Island Rec office by Friday, March 18 at 4 p.m.

Island Rec’s selection committee will choose one entrant as the Official Poster Designer of the festival. They will also award prizes to the designers of the top two runner-up posters.

Merri Ann Simonson sends along this month-end real estate market snapshot for San Juan Island.