San Juan Islander - news and info about Friday Harbor and San Juan County

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Senator Cantwell’s Bipartisan Legislation Giving Tribal Leaders Equal Access to Social Security Passes Senate, Heads to President’s Desk

Today, September 7, 2018, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John Thune (R-SD) to correct a long-standing inequity in the...READ MORE

Coast Guard called when boat sinks near Friday Harbor

The Coast Guard responded to a 40-foot sailing vessel that sank Wednesday, September 5, 2018 in Friday Harbor. The vessel has been anchored for some...READ MORE

Field carrier landing practice NAS Whidbey September 3-9

NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – No aircraft carrier-based flight training operations are scheduled to occur at Ault Field the week of Sept...READ MORE

Rep. Larsen launches 2018 Congressional App Challenge

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) launched the 2018 Congressional App Challenge Friday, August 31, an application competition for high school students.

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Stamper: Supports Gaylord for Prosecuting Attorney

As a police officer for 34 years, the first 28 in San Diego, the last six (1994 – 2000) as...READ MORE

Dustrude: Supports Gaylord for Prosecuting Attorney

Randy Gaylord has been doing a terrific job as county prosecutor. His most dramatic accomplishment was getting jet skis banned...READ MORE

Hospice of San Juan: Thanks United Way of San Juan County

To the Editor: This is a wonderful community - one that deserves a constant flow of gratitude. Today I’d like to...READ MORE

Orcas Resource Center: Vote Yes for affordable housing REET

Dear Editor: On behalf of the Board and staff of the Orcas Community Resource Center, we urge all members of our...READ MORE

Drozd: Supports Gaylord for prosecutor

As General Counsel for the largest public employee labor union in Orange County, California, I represent working people at scores...READ MORE

Lawrence: Vote yes for Affordable Housing REET

Please join me in saying YES for Homes Coalition of San Juan County in the next election! I’m a lifelong...READ MORE

Shepler: Naloxone is already in the National EMT Scope of Practice

I was relieved to read that the San Juan Island Public Hospital District overrode the fear-based concerns of EMS Chief...READ MORE

SJIMA thanks SJICF

Thank you, Community Foundation, The San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) was thrilled to participate in the County Fair Matching...READ MORE

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What's SeaWorld got to do with it?

Accusations flew in the emotionally-charged public meeting hosted by NOAA Fisheries at Friday Harbor High School...READ MORE

Profits or protection? Killer whales in the San Juan Islands

It all boils down to which number is more important - 74 whales or a $200...READ MORE

J50 Update: NOAA stops active search, Stranding Network still on alert

UPDATE from NOAA: After dedicated search efforts for J50 over the last two days, the three-year...READ MORE

CWR: J50 is presumed dead

CENTER for WHALE RESEARCH PRESS RELEASE: J50 is missing and now presumed dead. J50 and her family, 2017...READ MORE

Fecal sample shows J50's mother has parasites

Results are in from the fecal and breath samples collected by NOAA's team of researchers last...READ MORE

Update: Another dose of antibiotic given to J50

Biologists observing J50, the three-year-old female member of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population, noted...READ MORE

UPDATE: J50 spotted with J Pod

J-50 was spotted with the rest of her pod in the Salish Sea Monday morning September...READ MORE

Update on J50: More injections planned - antibiotic and dewormer

Response teams spent about three hours on Saturday, August 18, 2018 monitoring J50, the ailing three-year-old...READ MORE

Zuke racers: enthusiastic, inventive, competitive - SLIDESHOW

The annual Zucchini 500 races attracted competitors of all ages at the 2018 San Juan County Fair. Crowds cheered as the wacky contraptions zipped down the two lanes. A new twist on Chicken Races was added after...READ MORE

Fair feud, Zucchini races, and more at San Juan County Fair - SLIDESHOW

It's the Town vs the County at the Fair Feud at 4 p.m. Saturday, August 18 at the San Juan County Fair. The Town of Friday Harbor team beat the Port of Friday Harbor team Friday...READ MORE

Nicholas Roberts, Claire DeVoe take first place in Island Loop 8.8K race - SLIDESHOW

Nicholas Roberts finished first in the 42nd Annual Island Loop 8.8K run with a time of 31:37. Clair Devoe was the first woman across the finish line with a time of 33:26.

Equestrians compete at the horse games at San Juan County Fair - SLIDESHOW

The horse games are always a popular event at the San Juan County Fair. With country music blaring, competitors race against the clock in a variety of Western Horse games. Photos by Matt Pranger

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Have questions about Affordable housing REET?

Voters in the San Juan Islands will decide in November whether a half-percent Real Estate Excise...READ MORE

Sept. 10: LWV forum about Affordable Housing REET

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans is presenting a discussion from 12 noon...READ MORE

New voter registrations and update forms available during Licensing outage

OLYMPIA — While a network upgrade by the Department of Licensing makes online voter registration via...READ MORE

Manual recount ordered of ballots for Congressional District #2 U.S. Representative

San Juan County has been directed by the State to recount the votes cast for Congressional...READ MORE

Supreme Court decision places Initiative 1639 on November ballot

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Supreme Court’s decision to reverse Thurston County Superior Court Judge James...READ MORE

Ever wonder how ballots are counted? Process may surprise you

Congratulations and thank you to San Juan County voters for a good turnout for the 2018...READ MORE

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What's SeaWorld got to do with it?

Accusations flew in the emotionally-charged public meeting hosted by NOAA Fisheries at Friday Harbor High School Saturday, September 15, 2018. Angry men, women and...READ MORE

Oct. 13: Beachwatchers wanted for coastal observation and seabird survey team

On October 13 from 11 am to 5 pm, the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) will deliver a free training session in...READ MORE

Profits or protection? Killer whales in the San Juan Islands

It all boils down to which number is more important - 74 whales or a $200 million whale watching industry.

J50 Update: NOAA stops active search, Stranding Network still on alert

UPDATE from NOAA: After dedicated search efforts for J50 over the last two days, the three-year old female orca is still unaccounted for. The...READ MORE

NOAA still holding out hope for J50, Sept 15 meeting in Friday Harbor still on

NOAA"s response team continues to search the air and water extensively Friday, September 14 near where J50 was last seen for signs of her...READ MORE

NOAA and partners still looking for J50

The Center for Whale Research has declared J50 dead due to multiple sightings of her family without her in the past few days, the...READ MORE

CWR: J50 is presumed dead

CENTER for WHALE RESEARCH PRESS RELEASE: J50 is missing and now presumed dead. J50 and her family, 2017. Photo by Dave Ellifrit Her last known sighting was...READ MORE

Help sought to find j50

NOAA PRESS RELEASE: Unfortunately J50 has not been seen in several days of favorable conditions and sightings of her pod and family group, including...READ MORE

Oct. 4-6: Fish for Teeth brings free mobile dental clinic to San…

Islanders unable to afford dental care can receive it for free thanks to the local nonprofit Fish for Teeth from Thursday, October 4 to...READ MORE

New buyer for IIMC building in Friday Harbor

San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 voted unanimously at a special meeting September 11, 2018 to accept a sales agreement with HWV Property...READ MORE

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WSF Long Range Plan ready for comments

More than half of Washington State Ferries 22-vessel fleet is scheduled to be retired by 2040. Five of these ferries are more than 50 years old and need to be replaced immediately to sustain reliable service. These findings...

WSF explains how Orcas fairgoers ended up stranded in Friday Harbor

On Saturday evening August 18, 2018, after the San Juan Island County Fair ended, several “tall” vehicles destined for Orcas Island were left at the Friday Harbor ferry terminal. These vehicles were mostly transporting livestock, which...

Kaleetan slowly headed our way; Yakima going in for repairs

Washington State Ferries Yakima has been sailing slowly with a damaged prop for weeks. It is scheduled to finally get into a maintenance facility July 30.

More traffic on WSF July 20-22 weekend than any in 2017

Last weekend, July 20-22, was busier than any weekend in 2017 for Washington State Ferries. A total of 389,802 people traveled on a ferry. The busiest in 2017 was the weekend before the Fourth of July...

New ferry Suquamish joins state fleet

SEATTLE – A new vessel has joined the state ferry fleet. On Thursday, July 26, Washington State Ferries officially accepted the Suquamish from ship builder Vigor. The Suquamish is scheduled to begin to carry passengers this fall...

Fall ferry reservations open July 31

Washington State Ferries Fall reservations open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. The Fall schedule runs from September 30, 2018 through January 5, 2019.

4th Olympic Class ferry undergoing sea trials

A fourth new 144-car Olympic-Class ferry, the Suquamish, is undergoing builder sea trials this week. This fall, it will be handed over to Washington State Ferries after finishing touches and crew training. It will operate on the...

Ferry avoids crab pot placed in approach to terminal

Saturday morning, July 14, the captain and crew of the Washington State Ferry Samish had to do some fancy manuevering to avoid a crab pot that had been placed directly in front of the approach to...

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