Islanders have several upcoming opportunities to meet Jeff Asher, candidate for San Juan County sheriff. Hear what he has to say, ask questions, and get to know your candidate.
Re-enactors from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada will once again celebrate peace as they gather for the 13th annual Encampment, July 31 — Saturday — on the English Camp parade ground. The event is free except where noted. Disabled persons should call the park at 378-2240, ext. 2228/2229 or 378-4409 for special access information.
A public forum, “San Juan County’s Critical Areas: Common Sense and Land Use Regulation,” is Friday — tonight — 5-7 p.m., in Friday Harbor High School’s Turnbull Gym. The forum is presented by the Common Sense Alliance.
In conjunction with the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale on July 30 and 31 — Friday and Saturday — the library will offer works from its permanent art collection for sale by sealed bid. The sale will be held at Friday Harbor Elementary School on Grover Street. The sale starts on July 30 with a special opening for members of the Friends only, from 6-8 p.m.
The state Department of Natural resources has advised that the entire region is experiencing warm, dry weather. This weather pattern is expected to continue into the foreseeable future, with very low chances for any appreciable rain. The risk of a serious fire is increasing as the area’s natural vegetation begins to dry out.
San Juan County Health Official Dr. Frank James reports that the county Health Department has received reports of three local cases of pertussis — also known as whooping cough — this month. He urges all county residents to make sure that their vaccinations are up to date and asks anyone with a cough or cold-like symptoms to take extra precautions to avoid contact with young children.
Town of Friday Harbor business license renewals are due by July 31. There is a 50 percent penalty for late renewals — bumping what you owe from $42 to $63. All businesses that are no longer in business must notify the town in writing because the state auditors require written notification.
A survey questionnaire about how San Juan County should approach current and future challenges in dealing with solid and hazardous waste has been mailed to about half of the households in San Juan County.
Forty cars were already backed up from the entrance to the San Juan Island solid waste station when it opened at 10 a.m. on July 23, county Communications Manager Stan Matthews said. Workers reported that the backup persisted all day as 490 self-haul vehicles came through the station. “It was a rough start on the first week of a new operating schedule at the transfer station,” Matthews reported in a press release.
I support the need for deliberation, debate, and the creation of alternative solutions for important issues, HOWEVER, The Journal could do a great service for the community by summarizing what was expended to give us deliberation, and alternatives over the last five or so years. How much money? How many studies, consultants, hours spent by committees, councils, answers to state agencies for noncompliance and all the effort and hours by citizen volunteers? And on and on. And what did we really get?
As two who grew up in Friday Harbor, my husband and I find it somewhat alarming the typical service and attitude received at various eating establishments in town when we’re back to visit many times over the summer and fall months.
We urge you to vote for Charlie Wiggins for justice of the State Supreme Court. He is a highly respected lawyer and former judge of the Court of Appeals. He has served as chairman of the Disciplinary Board of the Washington State Bar Association, which disciplines lawyers who violate ethical rules. He has worked to pass laws limiting campaign contributions in judicial races and pushed for rules prohibiting judges from hearing cases involving parties who gave large campaign contributions supporting the judge’s election.
I was totally amazed when I read recently that the National Park Service was going to eliminate (read “kill”) the bunnies at American Camp so that the grass could grow back to the way it was in the 1800s.
