Detection of voracious fish on San Juan Island serves as a reminder of the threats to Washington’s native species and environment from invasive species.… Read on
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Announcing Leo Michael's Retirement
With gratitude and great appreciation for his years of service in San Juan County, we announce that Leo Michael will retire from his role as owner and principal of Safe Harbor Insurance at the new year, January 1, 2025. We recognize his many years of hard work, commitment, and friendship as a long term SJI local. His expertise and personal touch will be greatly missed by his clients, colleagues, and neighbors.
Leo has a hard time thinking about retirement, as he genuinely loves this community, his co-workers, and the local friendly faces who swing by just to say hello!
Reminder: No left turns at Nichols Street & Argyle Ave
San Juan County Sheriff posted this message to the community.
San Juan Island community, it has now been over five months since the "NO LEFT TURN SIGNS" were installed for public safety reasons at the intersection of Nichols St & Argyle Ave. There are still too many people either not being aware of the signs or just choosing not to follow the no left turn signs.
DRAFT North Shore Preserve Stewardship and Management Plan Now Open for Public Comment
The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank is seeking public input on its recently completed Draft Stewardship and Management Plan (SMP) for North Shore Preserve on Orcas Island. The purpose of this SMP is to identify overarching goals and management objectives for the Preserve’s natural, historic and cultural resources. In general, SMPs guide decision-making, work planning, and promote transparency. For the 76 percent of Land Bank properties that are open to the public, SMPs also define the level of public access in ways that meet our mission to provide opportunities for low-intensity recreation. These plans are revised periodically in response to changing environmental and social conditions.
You can download a copy of the Draft North Shore Preserve SMP from the Land Bank’s website by following this link: DRAFT Stewardship and Management Plan for North Shore Preserve.
- Public Comment Period: October 17 – November 17, 2024
- Please submit your comments by November 17, 2024.
You're Invited! San Juan County Conservation Land Bank Seeks Community Input
Got questions for Your Conservation Land Bank? We want to hear from you! We will host a county wide public meeting on Thursday – October 24th from 6pm - 7:30 pm.
We’ll kick off the meeting with a brief organizational update from staff. The remainder of the meeting will be open for questions from the public.
Register here to join the meeting: October 24, 2024, Community Conversation
NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS A PROPOSAL BY PUBLIC WORKS TO SITE AN ESSENTIAL PUBLIC FACILITY ON SHAW ISLAND
The San Juan Department of Community Development will hold a public meeting on Thursday, December 5, 2024, to discuss an application by San Juan County Public Works to site an Essential Public Facility on Shaw Island. To review the proposal, please visit Essential Public Facilities
The public meeting will be held in person beginning at or after 11:30 AM on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Shaw Community Center, 42 Reef Net Bay Road, Shaw Island.
San Juan County: The Next Nantucket? Consider a No vote for the Land Bank
I’ve long been drawn to Nantucket, often compared to Friday Harbor, where I’ve lived as a native islander and farmer. My family has lived in the San Juans for over seven generations. In September 2022, a trip to see fall colors on the East Coast finally brought me there, and I ensured we included Nantucket in our plans.
Though lodging was pricey, we settled on a motel for convenience. Arriving via fast ferry from Hyannis, we quickly discovered that Nantucket is a beautiful yet expensive destination, much like Friday Harbor.
Pay Your Property Taxes Using the New Online Portal and Shopping Cart
The deadline for paying your property taxes is just around the corner, but the San Juan County Treasurer’s Office is making it easier than ever to pay online. Accessed via the Treasurer’s Office webpage, a new online portal allows you to pay for multiple properties at once (while avoiding multiple transaction fees!), schedule on-time payments, receive an instant receipt, and create an account to make future transactions even easier.
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.
