Jim and Minnie Knych support Stephanie O'Day for County Council
We support Stephanie Oday for County Council. This decision comes after attending the candidate forum on June 29, and watching the interviews with Stephanie and other candidates at CNL2
Stephanie Oday has demonstrated knowledge of the issues facing our county. She also shows an understanding of the issues facing the county council including the aging workforce, the morale of county employees and the out-of-control budget.
As an attorney she understands the complexities of the legal system. She has also proven that she is able to listen to all sides and negotiate a fair outcome. As a thirty-three-year citizen of San Juan County, she has been a frequent volunteer, giving time and money to community service events; often in leadership positions.
Most of all, she is a problem solver who has made a commitment to represent the citizens of all the islands and to hold regular meetings outside of council meetings to answer questions and keep “we, the people” informed.
~Jim and Minnie Knych
Ferguson, Hobbs agree to settlement voiding original Washington state Constitution voter rule
By TJ Martinell / The Center Square
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs' Office has, through agency rulemaking, officially removed a residency requirement for registering to vote enshrined in the state’s original 1889 Constitution.
The rulemaking occurred after both Hobbs and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson agreed to a consent decree earlier this year to settle a 2023 lawsuit arguing that the constitutional provision violated federal law due to a 2018 state law.
What Are Libraries For?
Authored by Roger L. Simon via The Epoch Times
When I was a kid in New York, the 96th Street library was a focal point of my life. Even though I was perpetually losing my library card and amassing fines for overdue books I didn’t want my parents to know about, it (as well as the movie theaters on 86th) was my home away from home.
It had also, I was given to understand, served the same function for the young James Baldwin (although Wikipedia cites the 135th Street library in Harlem) and other esteemed writers of the past and had a history of spawning authors, something even then I dreamed of being.
It was also a place for stimulating the mind as only books can.
Bipartisan Fusion Energy Bill Led by Senator Murray, Colleagues Passes Senate, Heads to President Biden’s Desk
Legislation comes as Washington state is quickly becoming a global leader in the race for fusion energy
Senator Murray: “Our legislation will provide the regulatory certainty needed to speed fusion development and deployment, boosting the fusion sector in Washington state and ultimately bringing down energy costs for families.”
Inslee appoints Gent Welsh adjutant general
Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh has been appointed adjutant general of Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee announced today.
Welsh will command all Washington Army and Air National Guard forces and serve as the director of the Washington Military Department, which along with the Washington National Guard, includes the state’s Emergency Management Division and the Washington Youth Challenge Academy. The position also serves as homeland security advisor to the governor and as administrator for all Homeland Security grants awarded to Washington’s state, local, Tribal and non-profit entities.
Potential Land Purchase on Shaw Island for Public Works Operations
On Tuesday June 25, the San Juan County Council is scheduled to deliberate on a decision to purchase approximately 16 acres along 1427 Neck Point Road to support Public Works operations on Shaw Island. This Council meeting follows a community meeting with Council Chair Jane Fuller that was announced on May 23, held on June 3, and recapped in a press release issued on June 7. Council and staff have received and incorporated feedback from this meeting into ongoing exploration of this potential purchase.
Report of Downed Aircraft in San Juan Channel
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, along with personnel from the US Coast Guard and the WA Department of Fish & Wildlife (DWFW), are responding to a reported aircraft that went down in San Juan Channel near Orcas Island. The incident was reported to San Juan County’s dispatch center around 11:40am. The report noted that an older model plane was flying from north to south then went into the water and sunk. No additional information is available at this time and the number of passengers onboard is unclear.
THE PERFECT COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER - [ Knych ]
It has interesting to see the candidates for our non-partisan county council. I’ll be evaluating the candidates based on their statements and platforms.
Here’s what I’m looking for in a council representative.
News story on solar power in Seattle gets the facts badly wrong
By TODD MYERS at Washington Policy Center
What does it cost to generate solar power in Seattle? Conrad Swanson, a writer at the Climate Lab project at the Seattle Times, claims to answer that question in a recent article.However, if you read the entire article, Swanson never provides an actual price, saying only that costs for solar have come down.
If you ask someone the price of something and they only say, “its cheaper than it was,” you can be pretty sure it is still expensive. Solar in Seattle – especially rooftop solar – is very expensive.
San Juan County Hires New County Manager
With a tentative start date of July 15, Jessica Hudson will be responsible for serving as a staff liaison to Council, overseeing County department operations, managing the budget, and more.
San Juan County Council is pleased to announce the hiring of a new County Manager – Jessica Hudson. Hudson is currently the Director at Fairfax County Public Library in Fairfax, Virginia where she oversees a system of 23 public facilities, a budget of $35 million, and 550 staff. In this role, she has developed and administered strategic plans, initiated public service operation expansions, uplifted underrepresented communities through programs and services, and supported a capital renovation budget of more than $90 million.
San Juan Island Library - [Moorhouse]
Originally our library occupied one room in the Friday Harbor Town Hall building. It was staffed by volunteers without any paid employees. In June 1983 the Town notified the Library Board that the Town needed the space and the library would be required to move. The Library Board selected a closed restaurant (called the Shrimp Boat) building and sold the citizens on the purchase of the building.
AG Bob Ferguson threatens his political opponents with arrest, prison, and lawsuits, unless they drop out- now THIS protects Democracy!
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, running for Governor threatens to arrest and imprison political opponents so he can win his political race. Nothing says "Saving Democracy" more than this.
Nothing demonstrates the importance and priority of Democracy more than threatening your political opponents with arrest, 10 years in prison, and litigation for life. Particularly when the person making the threat is the Washington State Attorney General who is running for Governor, and his political opponents are regular people who want to provide an alternative not an echo on the ballot. The true face of a narcissistic sociopath will be revealed when they come unglued like this.
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August 2024 “Volunteer of the Month”
Leslie Sargent 
Please join us in celebrating Leslie Sargent, honored as the Volunteer of the Month for August 2024 by the Animal Protection Society - Friday Harbor!
For the past year and a half, Leslie Sargent has been a dedicated and beloved volunteer at APS-FH, but her journey of giving back to animals started long before that. Leslie’s love of dogs led her to volunteer at a shelter in Oregon, where she lived for many years. Even during the busiest times of her life, running a retreat at an old mineral spring in Oregon with her family for 35 years, Leslie always found time to care for animals.
The 2024 San Juan County Fair is Just Around the Corner!
The countdown has begun for this year’s San Juan County Fair! With the theme “A Century of Growing: A Hundred Years at Home,” we have a lot to celebrate. This year’s food court is packed with a variety of options to quiet the rumble in your belly and our entertainment line-up has something for everyone from folk to rock to cumbia and everything in between! Head to the San Juan County Fair to celebrate ‘100 years at home’ from Thursday, August 15 through Sunday, August 18.
Nothing Says “Fair” Like Mouthwatering Food!
Recreational Campfire Status in San Juan County
As of July 10, 2024, at 1:00pm, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a declaration banning all fires statewide on DNR protected lands. This ban extends to recreational campfires on DNR lands in San Juan County.
The San Juan County Fair is Just Around the Corner; Register Your Exhibits TODAY!
The San Juan County Parks & Fair Department continues to streamline ways to help you participate in the County Fair. With online pre-registration for entries and a new pick-up and drop-off service on Orcas, Lopez and Shaw, it’s never been easier to be part of the Fair!
Scam Alert: Recent 'Spoofing' Scam Impersonates Sheriff's Office
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public to an ongoing 'spoofing' scam in our community. Islanders are getting calls from someone claiming to be the Sheriff’s Office, attempting to scam them out of money. These calls are NOT from the Sheriff's Office and the community is encouraged to be aware of suspicious phone calls.
Former astronaut William Anders, who took iconic Earthrise photo, killed in Washington plane crash
William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic “Earthrise” photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90.
Same-day camping reservations now available at 26 state parks
Same-day reservations program expands across Washington
OLYMPIA — June 6, 2024 — Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) is excited to announce its same-day reservation pilot program has expanded to 26 parks across the state.
Additionally, Parks has implemented a new flexible dates feature in its reservations system. Rather than searching for exact dates, visitors can now choose the flexible booking dates option and see when different sites are available. This great new feature lets campers with flexibility find a site, especially during peak season, at busier parks.
Pet of the Week
ABOUT
Age: ~8.5 months old
Sex: Female
Breed: Domestic Medium Hair, Black
Origin: San Juan Island
Weight: ~5lbs
Personality: Conscientious, One-of-a-Kind, Worth-the-Wait
Energy Level: Varying, and still revealing itself.
Likes: Building Trust, Cryptozoology, Fellow Feline Friends
Dislikes: Parades, Poachers, Surprises
Application:
https://www.apsfh.com/adoption-program/feline-application/
